Finding coping strategies to combat the fears and challenges of living with cancer can be a complex task. Coping strategies are the attitudes and behaviours you use to maintain emotional well-being and to adjust to the stresses caused by cancer. Because everybody copes in different ways and some methods of coping are more successful with some people than others, it may take a while to figure out which strategy works best for you.

We have come up with a list of coping strategies that have helped other young people live with cancer. These strategies are not going to fit everyone’s needs but they may be possible ways to help you adjust to life with cancer:

• Be an advocate by becoming knowledgeable of cancer, treatments, and emotional and physical side effects.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even the brave questions about the seriousness of the cancer and the pros and cons of various treatments.
• Keep talking and expressing your emotions to allow an outlet for your feelings of fear, anger, sadness, guilt and so on.
• Express your feelings at a time that is right for you and with the right people.
• Find ways to help yourself and your loved ones relax and laugh together.
• Set short-term and long-term goals for yourself.
• Remain hopeful that this is a temporary setback and stay positive, while giving yourself and others freedom to give in to other feelings sometimes.
• Keep listening to your favorite music and participating in things you enjoy.
• Try to live life as you did prior to the diagnosis.
• Find ways to release your emotions for example exercise, arts and crafts, hanging out with your friends, good pillow fights, screaming and feeling good about it.
• Reach out and take advantage of the support that is available to you and your loved ones.
• Participate more in decision-making so you can make choices and have some control over your life and this current situation.
• Take comfort in believing that a personal and positive future exists for you and your loved ones.
• Remember cancer affects the whole family and by working together you can achieve so much more.
• Remember cancer is only part of your life –cancer does not define you: there is a lot more to you, or your brother and sister, than just cancer.