What to Do After Getting a Cancer Diagnosis

When Yenny Alba de Olivares of Flushing, New York, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, it felt like a gut punch. “At first, it was shocking and sad,” she says. “Everybody who hears the word ‘cancer’ probably thinks about death right away.”

Emotions can vary from person to person, but Alba de Olivares’s reaction is common. “It could be a mix of anger, sadness, disillusionment, even a sense of, “Is this really happening to me?‘ or ‘Is this even real?’” says Erik Bengtsen, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. “I think the underlying sense, though, is a fear response. It’s very traumatic.”

But trauma doesn’t have to linger, says Dr. Bengtsen. There are some steps you can take right away to prepare for the treatment journey and find the strength you need to get through the challenges along the way.

You’ll need a team of medical professionals to help you through treatment, says Shanthi Sivendran, MD, senior vice president for cancer treatment support at the American Cancer Society (ACS) and a hematology/oncology physician at Penn Medicine in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In addition to a medical oncologist, this may include a radiation oncologist, a surgeon, and other healthcare providers, depending on the cancer.

You might find these other providers through your oncologist, through word-of-mouth recommendations, or by searching your health insurance website.

Dr. Sivendran stresses that healthcare professionals should “communicate well and specialize in your cancer.”

An oncology navigator or social worker may also be a crucial part of your team. “They help assess and address barriers that might make it hard for you to access your cancer treatment,” says Sivendran. “They are also great at helping you decode all the information about your cancer diagnosis.”

It’s more than okay to seek a second opinion if you are unsure that a doctor’s approach is right for you or simply want an additional perspective on treatment options.

“There’s a lot of reassurance and confidence building that comes from getting a second opinion,” says Alan Bryce, MD, chief clinical officer and a medical oncologist at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix in Goodyear, Arizona.

“Part of what makes cancer care overwhelming is navigating expenses and work leave,” says Sivendran. “Understand your insurance plan, and don’t be afraid to ask about treatment costs and expectations.” You can call your insurance provider, your oncology navigator, or a benefits specialist through your workplace to walk you through what resources are available to you. All of this information can be overwhelming, though, so consider asking a trusted loved one to join these calls to help you process and absorb what’s shared.

Your loved ones may be willing and able to step up, but not know how to best support you during this time, so it can be helpful (to them and to you) to think through what you may need during treatment. Do you feel most supported when you can call up a friend and vent about what you’re going through? What do you find most challenging when you’re stressed (for example, grocery shopping or picking the kids up from school), and who might be able to lend a hand with these tasks?

You may also find it supportive to connect with others who have or are in remission from cancer, who just “get it.” Ask your healthcare provider about local support groups that may help you deal with the diagnosis. You could also find one online or use the ACS CARES app to connect with a peer volunteer who has experience with cancer.

Dr. Bryce says the first couple of appointments after a diagnosis can feel like a blur. You’re still processing the information, and you may miss some details or forget to ask certain questions. But be careful about taking those questions to an internet search bar or AI chatbot when you get home.

“Knowledge is power and can help ease some of the fears and the feeling of being overwhelmed,” says Sivendran. “But there is a lot of misinformation out there about cancer, so going to the right sources is important.”

Bryce recommends the ACS website, cancer.org, as a reliable source. Even more important and dependable is asking questions directly to your care team, who can offer personalized information based on your diagnosis.

For example, if exercise typically helps you de-stress, you may have to find ways to do it outdoors, rather than in the gym, if you need to avoid crowded places right now. (Just be sure to touch base with your care team about safely exercising during treatment.)

Participating in social activities, enjoying nature, creating art, and even working can be healthy distractions and methods of coping with the stress and unpredictability of having cancer.

“There are all these other parts of you beyond cancer. And we want to encourage those parts, because that's going to help you get through the treatment,” Bengtsen says. There may be some programs to help you with this, too. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, for example, offers a writing program called Visible Ink, in which people with cancer can share their stories.

As you’re adjusting to the news and following your doctor’s orders, it’s important to prep for the next appointment. This could mean writing down questions that come up or that you forgot to ask or lining up a family member or friend to offer support in the waiting room or as a second set of ears during the visit itself.

It’s vital to try to remove any barriers to getting the care you need, Bryce says. For example, if you don’t have a car, you may need to ask someone to drive you to appointments.

Alba de Olivares was also diagnosed with leukemia the same year as her initial cancer diagnosis and has received treatments and surgery. At the time of publication, she’s now in remission and sees her specialist every six months.

She credits prayer, her loved ones, and following her healthcare team’s recommendations for getting her through the challenges of treatment. “[I kept] my family and friends closer. They help you go through those tough times,” she says.

“Sometimes after something really scary, we can start to think about what’s really meaningful — like there’s a shift in perspective,” says Bengtsen. “Finding some inner resiliency is really hard at the start, but over time, that kind of reveals itself differently for every person.”

• Anger, fear, and sadness are common reactions to a cancer diagnosis. Taking action early can help you feel empowered and in greater control.
• Experts recommend assembling a high-quality medical team and finding reliable sources of information to help you feel knowledgeable as you begin treatment.
• Leaning on support from family and friends is important for mental health and may even help improve treatment outcomes.
• Preparing for future appointments can help them feel less daunting.