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Understanding Your Diagnosis

Finding out you have cancer can bring many changes for you and your loved ones. 

Here, we answer many questions about cancer and making treatment decisions. We also tell you what you can expect from the people and services that are there to help you cope with cancer.

This information is not meant to replace the advice of your health care provider. Please keep in mind every patient's situation is different. Because of this, there are questions you will need to ask your doctor.  Talking with them is the best way to understand what’s going on with your body, what you can expect, and how treatment will help. 

What is cancer?

Cancer can start any place in the body. It starts when cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. This makes it hard for the body to work the way it should.

  • What Is Cancer?
  • Questions People Ask About Cancer
  • Is Cancer Contagious?
  • If You Have Cancer

How is cancer diagnosed?

Learn about the tests used to diagnose and stage cancer, and get help understanding your test results.

  • Exams and Tests for Cancer
  • Cancer Staging

If cancer has advanced

Advanced cancers have usually spread from where they started to other parts of the body. This is known as metastatic cancer. But not all advanced cancers are metastatic.

  • Advanced Cancer, Metastatic Cancer, and Bone Metastasis

How do I cope?

At first, most people need some time to adjust to the fact that they have cancer. It’s normal to feel disbelief, shock, fear, and anger. You may need some time to absorb and understand what your diagnosis and treatment options mean for you and your loved ones.

  • Coping with Cancer
  • After Diagnosis: A Guide for Patients and Families [PDF]

How do I talk to people about having cancer?

It can be hard to talk about cancer, even with the people you love. Your loved ones may also have a hard time talking about cancer. It’s not easy for them to know what to say to help you or make you feel better. Here are some tips to help you and your loved ones deal with cancer.

  • Telling Others About Your Cancer
  • Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer

Making treatment decisions

Before getting any treatment, your doctor will first need to learn more about your cancer. The results of a biopsy, blood tests, physical exams, and imaging tests (x-rays or scans), along with any problems the cancer is causing are used to decide which treatment options might be best for you. Your doctor may also talk with other experts to get their opinions. Your doctor will then discuss the goal of treatment and the pros and cons of each treatment option with you.

  • Choosing Your Treatment Team
  • Questions to Ask Your Doctor
  • Treatment Types
  • Living Well During Treatment

More In Treatment & Support

  • Understanding Your Diagnosis
  • Finding and Paying for Treatment
  • Treatments and Side Effects
  • Survivorship: During and After Treatment
  • Caregivers and Family
  • Children and Cancer
  • End of Life Care
  • Find Support Programs and Services in Your Area
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