Cancer Patients—Before & During Treatment or Surgery

Has the bottom dropped out of your life because of a cancer diagnosis?

You’re probably tired of struggling to try to cope with cancer. You feel there must be a better way…

If you‘ve been diagnosed with cancer and found this website, you’re probably overwhelmed, exhausted and worried about your future. It probably feels like a “ton of bricks” hit you since you received the cancer diagnosis.

Every day can feel like unknown territory—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Nothing feels normal anymore. Cancer is at the center of every aspect of your life. You feel out of overwhelmed and like you have lost control of your life. You may sometimes feel like “I’m going crazy” or “There’s something wrong with me” because your feelings are so intense.

You may be struggling with ways to deal with other people’s well-intended, but sometimes unhelpful or even hurtful reactions and advice. People tell you to “be positive” or “be strong,” and it makes you feel like if you have difficult feelings or don’t have a positive enough attitude, you won’t get better.

Maybe A Rollercoaster of Emotions is Taking it’s Toll on You:

• You’re worn out from feeling scared and anxious.
• Feeling sad and alone can be draining.
• Anger, frustration, or resentment is sapping your strength.

And the Other Day-To-Day Challenges “Piled on Top” of Cancer Can Make the Experience Even Worse:

• Relationship problems might have come to the surface.
• Job-related stress may be getting you down.
• Every-day problems are stressing you out more than usual.

And while the challenges of cancer can be great….

The Good News is, Your Experience with Cancer Can Be Much Easier.

What would it be like to feel like you’re living your life again—despite cancer—instead of “just surviving?”

You can and make your cancer journey easier and stand on more steady ground emotionally.

It’s possible to:

• Navigate the cancer journey in a way that works for you.
• Cope more easily with the changes happening in your life.
• Feel more connected with others and build a support system that works for you.
• Discover ways to communicate with others about what you do and don’t need.
• Filter out and let in only the most helpful suggestions and information from well-meaning others.
• Strengthen your body image and bolster your self esteem.
• Discover ways to focus on the things that make your life meaningful every day.
• Balance cancer-related activities with every-day life.
• Find the personal strengths you didn’t know you had, the courage and hope inside you that keep you going when times are tough.

As a Cancer Counselor, Therapist and Coach Who Has Experienced Cancer Personally, I Can Support and Guide You Throughout Your Cancer Journey.

Hi, my name is Dawn Pelletier Stratton. I know what it’s like to have cancer. I was diagnosed with cancer over 12 years ago. I saw a counselor over the course of my illness and beyond, and found it extremely helpful, especially in managing the rollercoaster of emotions that is a natural reaction to a cancer diagnosis.

Through my own counseling, I learned that I didn’t have to “be positive” or “be strong” all the time in order to survive, that just because I was sad, angry, and frustrated, it didn’t mean I would die. (Obviously, I didn’t!) I learned I had the right to do what it took to get through the cancer journey in my own unique way, instead of listening to how everyone else thought I should “do” cancer. The strategies I learned were so valuable and effective that I still use them to this day when I encounter hard times.

With my training as a licensed counselor and my experience supporting people affected by cancer over the past decade, I’ve been fortunate to be able to “pay it forward” and do for others what my counselor did for me. As a counselor specializing in cancer patients and survivors, I’ve helped people through every aspect of the journey, through a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and problems that occur in the months and years afterward. As your cancer survivorship counselor, I can help you to feel empowered to make the quality of your life the best it can be, in spite of cancer.

Are you ready to have the best life possible in spite of having cancer?

Here are your next steps:

1. Get My Free eWorkbook, 10 Ways to Make Cancer Suck Less.

When you enter your name and email address below, you will get immediate access to this eWorkbook. You will also get a subscription to my eNewsletter, Coping With Cancer. This bi-weekly newsletter will contain an educational article, helpful tips, and information about services and programs that can support you along your cancer journey.

Fill out the form below to receive the eWorkbook and newsletter subscription. I will never share your email address with anyone, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

2. Browse this website to learn more about me and my cancer counseling and coaching practice.

You can start by checking out How I Work, Services, or the Free Stuff available on this site.

3. Get started with my counseling or coaching services.

If you like what you see, call or email to make an appointment for an initial 15 minute phone consultation at no charge.

Can’t get to Portland, Maine for counseling sessions? You can still work with me!
I see clients at my office located in Portland, Maine. If you live in another area, can’t travel for any reason, or would just prefer the convenience of having your sessions from your home or office, I offer phone and video counseling (through Skype) to people throughout Maine. Please Contact Me to find out more.

To schedule a session or set up an initial 15 minute phone consultation at no charge, call me at 207-773-1143 or email me at dawn[at]awakeningcounseling.com.