Jessie Gruman , PhD, who has personally survived four life-threatening diagnoses, is the author of AfterShock: What to do When the Doctor Gives You – or Someone You Love –- a Devastating Diagnosis and President of the Center for the Advancement of Health .

Guest Blogger Jessie Gruman--

News that Minnesota Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze has leukemia generated a spate of messages wishing him well in his coming battle against the blood cancer, which is not as devastating a diagnosis as it once was. The survival rate has tripled during the past 40 years.

Nevertheless, the shock of news of a serious illness can really knock you for a loop: shock that your plans are shattered, fear of pain, sadness at the suffering your illness causes those you love and fear that you might lose your life, even with such an optimistic prognosis.

And in the midst of this maelstrom of emotion following a serious medical diagnosis, every patient must make decisions that are vital to their future. Whether you are being treated as a sports hero in a full service hospital like the Mayo Clinic or being cared for by a community doctor in rural Kentucky, you will make choices about tests, doctors and treatments that you never knew existed a week ago.

The same advances in medicine that make it more possible to survive leukemia mean that newly diagnosed patients must clamber up a steep learning curve if they are going to participate in their own care – to make the choices that meet their own needs and preferences. But it is tough doing so when the shock is new.

Many of us respond to a serious new diagnosis with a strong sense that we want to make our plan immediately. By doing so, we can reduce the uncertainty and maybe convince ourselves that this is not such a serious illness. But this is dangerous. Don’t rush through this. If you aren’t already in the hospital, take a few days to understand what’s going on and what your choices are. There is much to learn and your choices can affect how long and how well you will live.

Those of us who have been through this not only wish Kenechi well, but are glad he has time to learn about his disease and possible treatments as he undergoes tests to confirm his diagnosis in the next few weeks.

MORE FROM JESSIE GRUMAN

Update on Mar 6, 2008 by At Basil & Spice

Seen At Reuters!