Cancer Awareness Month

Since April was cancer awareness month, today I’ll be sharing some tips on prevention and coping mechanisms for if a loved one has been diagnosed or fighting this hideous disease.

Personally, I have lost many loved ones from cancer. However, the scariest part of all of it, for me at least, is that kids (yes KIDS) are being diagnosed at such a young age. So what can we do to help prevent this horrid disease? Detection and screening are key.

As for any other health concerns, regular screenings are imperative. This is routine to ensure all is well and that there are no abnormalities. I mean, why else would doctors recommend screenings?

Another thing to do is to go to your primary health care provider if you suspect anything out of the ordinary. For example, I’ve written about skin cancer detection before and some key things to look for if you notice anything out of the ordinary.

As for coping mechanisms, for me,  finding something that helped take my mind off of the craziness that was going on helped. I worked a lot, I exercised, journaled, read books, anything you can think of really. A lot of what helped me through those rough times helped me through my journey to recovery.

Random fun fact: back in October 2015 I went sober for the month to help raise awareness for cancer.

Ultimately, cancer is a disgusting disease that needs to just go away.

Alex Newton is a nursing student and mental health advocate. She grew up in a small town and plans on moving to London, England one day and open up her own health practice. She has a cat named Maya who she adopted whilst going through some difficulties. She’s a daughter, sister, and warrior who enjoys a nice cuppa tea.