This can be anything from a sport or playing cards or talking on the phone or going to a movie. The important thing is to break your normal routine just for the sake of doing something that gives you pleasure. The mere act of doing something exclusively for your own benefit is good therapy. Outside support is essential to a cancer patient. Talking your feelings over with someone allows you to feel them fully and helps release them.
Stress management becomes crucial with the diagnosis of cancer.
Exercise, relaxation, recreation and expression of feelings are ways to relieve stress. You cannot begin to deal with stress until you realize and admit that you are under stress. Until you reach that point, you will not successfully cope with it. The mere diagnosis of cancer places a large burden of stress not only on you, but on your family and friends, which in turn adds to your stress. It is important to analyze what you are doing to adjust your priorities and responsibilities.