How to Live With a Carcinoid

A carcinoid is a slow-growing cancer doctors often diagnose during treatment for other ailments. According to the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation, the most common site of discovery is the small intestine, and with early detection and removal, you may be cured. The UK Cancer Research Center claims that 67 percent of patients diagnosed with carcinoid cancer have a life expectancy of five years or more depending on where the cancer growth began in the body. Learning to live with cancer is never easy, but there are steps you can take to help you lead a healthy and active life.

Instructions

• 1

  Respond to your diagnosis by undergoing all the stages of grief. Up until you were diagnosed, you may have been experiencing a multitude of symptoms you didn't understand, but diagnosis is often the first step toward getting on with your life.

• 2

  Educate yourself about carcinoid cancer. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about your cancer and symptoms, the easier it will be to begin living with them day-to-day. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions when results and terminology are confusing so you can more easily understand exactly what is happening to your body and why.

• 3

  Learn to manage and treat your symptoms. Carcinoid cancer creates a number of symptoms in the body, such as facial flushing, diarrhea lung and heart problems. Your doctor can help you treat individual symptoms to reduce the amount of pain you have, which can improve your overall life quality.

• 4

  Track all symptoms and test results in a journal you can easily refer to when consulting with your doctor.

• 5

  Adjust your diet. Many of the problems associated with carcinoid cancer, especially stomach and intestinal cancer, can create severe digestive problems and diarrhea. Altering your diet to accommodate specific food types may improve your symptoms. For example, avoiding wheat germ and bran, high fiber fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals and greasy food with high fat content can help reduce diarrhea symptoms.

• 6

  Maintain a positive attitude. Learning to talk about your illness is part of the healing process that makes it easier for you to get through every day. Reach out to friends, loved ones and support groups for support. Trying to undergo the symptoms and setbacks of carcinoid cancer alone can lead to depression.

• 7

  Attend regular doctor's appointments as they are scheduled so you can stay on top of symptoms and the progress of your carcinoid.