INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Everyone's body reacts differently to cancer. Your symptoms will also depend on what type of cancer you have. However, it is likely that you will deal with many physical changes. Finding ways to feel physically better can help you handle your illness.  Your doctor will be one of your greatest resources. After you have processed the initial diagnosis, schedule a follow-up appointment. Prepare a list of questions to ask. Writing them down ahead of time will help you remember key points. You can ask things such as, "How will this affect my energy levels and my appetite?" You could also say, "Are there any physical restrictions I should be aware of?" You may also want to ask about your short-term and long-term prognosis. Ask your doctor to be as honest and specific as possible. After you begin to understand your particular type of cancer, you can begin working to make a treatment plan. Many people feel better when they feel like they have a little bit of control over their medical care. Tell your doctor that you want to be involved in decision making.  Discuss whether you are going to pursue the most aggressive treatment possible. Sometimes surgery is an option but comes with risks. Talk to your doctor about all of your options. Give yourself time to think about each possible course of treatment. Involve your partner or a close family member in your decision-making process. It can be beneficial to have some advice from a person you are close to. Ask your partner to accompany you to your medical appointments. He or she can help you process all of the information you are taking in. Your treatment plan should also include ways to handle the day to day symptoms you will experience. Talk to your doctor about the potential side effects of your illness and medications. Make a plan to cope with anticipated physical symptoms.  Many cancer patients deal with pain. Talk to your doctor about prescription pain killers and natural remedies. Loss of appetite is another common problem. Keep foods on hand that are easier to digest, such as soup and oatmeal. Chemotherapy drugs can cause fatigue. Allow yourself extra time to rest. You might also feel better if you can do light physical activity, such as taking a short walk. Your sex drive might suffer. Have an honest conversation with your partner about other ways to still have intimacy. Try extra hugging and cuddling. It is important to try to be as healthy as possible when you are dealing with cancer. Your body needs plenty of nutrients to fight your illness. Try to eat a healthy diet.  A balanced diet can help you fight fatigue. Try to eat whole grains, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins. If you are having trouble keeping foods down, try eating some homemade vegetable soup. You'll get lots of nutrients and hopefully avoid upsetting your stomach. Remember to stay hydrated. Cancer medications can cause dry mouth and cracked skin, so it is important to drink as much water as possible. Get plenty of rest. Allow yourself to take naps as needed and go to bed as early as you like. Average adults need 7-9 hours of sleep. You may need more. Although it is frustrating, you may not be able to complete all of your regular tasks. It's okay to delegate some of your responsibilities. Allow your friends and family to help.  When people offer to help, take them up on it. If your neighbor asks what she can do, it is perfectly fine to say, "It would be so helpful if you could pick up a few things for me the next time you are at the grocery store." Ask your partner to take over some extra responsibilities around the house. Maybe you've traditionally been the cook. It's okay to take some time off from making dinner. Talk to your boss about your situation. Explain that you may need to take a reduced role on some big projects.

SUMMARY: Talk to your doctor. Make a treatment plan. Manage your physical symptoms. Adopt healthy habits. Accept help.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Some people have a super-hero mind, wanting to jump in and help anybody and everybody, no matter what the circumstance. But in reality, there are a lot of things you won't be capable of doing yourself, practically. In that circumstance, it is best to see if you can help them out by finding someone who can better assist. Then, you will be able to see more successful results than had you tried it yourself, and you will know that you were the one to help point them in the right direction. If your friend calls you from three hours away because of car trouble and is asking you to come pick them up, you could hop in your car and waste the next 6 hours of your life, or you could start looking up body shops in the area, or friends close by who might be more able and eager to help. . Sometimes, the best course of action is just to hop in and start helping. Don't wait to be asked for help, just volunteer. This is especially true for big jobs, like garage cleanings, or yard work, things that nobody is especially excited to do, but just need to be done. Instead of waiting around and debating, just hop in and volunteer to get started. Your willingness to work might have the effect of inspiring others to hop in and stop hemming and hawing about what to do. Be a leader. Sometimes, receiving help can be a little embarrassing, so try to put yourself in the shoes of the person you're helping and not make a big deal out of it. This is especially true if you're doing something like lend money, or get someone out of a pickle that might have been somewhat embarrassing. Don't underestimate what might be embarrassing for some people. If your buddy needed help changing a tire because he didn't know how, it might be somewhat emasculating to bring it up in front of all your friends. If he offers to tell the story as a joke, hop in, but don't volunteer the information yourself. to. If you want to be really and truly helpful to others, you need to act from the goodness of your heart, not because you want something in return. This will only lead to disappointment, resentment, and manipulative behavior, making you bitter in the long run. Acting from a place of ulterior motives only makes you less helpful in the long run. Don't push your help on people. If someone's committed to doing something solo, it's not your business to force your aid on them. Be available if they should have a change of heart. There are people out there who will take advantage of your generosity. The joy you derive from helping your fellow man is worth the risk, but such risk should be mitigated wherever possible. Use common sense. Understand your own limitations and bless you for helping. Look out for leeches. Learn to understand who actually needs your help and who might just be conning, or manipulating you. Don't be emotionally manipulated into doing too much for someone.

SUMMARY: Figure out whether or not you're capable to actually help. Get your hands dirty Keep your help quiet.  because you want to. Be careful.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you're able to use the kitchen, make yourself something nice to eat. See what ingredients you have and figure out a dish you can make using those ingredients. It can be fun to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. If you're unsure of what to make, there are many websites where you can type in the ingredients you have and they will suggest a dish. Try something like Super Cook or Recipe Master. . This can be great if you're bored alone because of bad weather. You can find homemade hot chocolate recipes online, which are usually made with milk and cocoa powder, chocolate chips, or baking chocolate. If you have the right ingredients lying around, think about making yourself a soothing glass of homemade cocoa. . If you have basic baking ingredients, such as sugar and flour, you should be able to bake something. Even something simple, like basic sugar cookies, can be a fun project when you're home alone. See what ingredients you have on hand and make a dish using them. If you have cookbooks, find recipes using them. You can also find recipes online.

SUMMARY:
Cook yourself a nice meal. Make homemade hot chocolate Bake something