Advice from four cancer survivors

A cancer diagnosis can feel lonely and overwhelming. But listening to the experiences of those who have been there before -- other cancer survivors -- can help.

We talked with four cancer survivors and caregivers and asked them to share their advice for those who've recently received a cancer diagnosis. Here's what they had to say.

Trust your care team at MD Anderson
"Know that you're going to have the best doctors in the nation that are going to be looking out for you. And it's not just the best doctors, it's a team. MD Anderson is the best in the world at having a team concept."
-- Frank Mellen, B-cell lymphoma survivor

Keep living your life
"I continued with my life as I had lived it before. I do a lot of walking. I do a lot of reading. I used to do a lot of dancing. I think it's important to just keep living."
-- Nancy Kahn, ovarian cancer survivor

Don't let others' stories scare you
"I would tell them to not go on the Internet and read everything they can. While that's good, at a certain point you're just going to freak yourself out. And not everything that happens to everybody is going to happen to you. Everyone's body is different. You might read about some side effects that really scare you, and they never happen to you."
-- Jami Mayberry, vulvar cancer survivor

Think positive
"Don't get discouraged once you find out you're diagnosed. There's so much advanced treatment now. Think positive and stay with it."
-- Mumtaz Sarani, salivary gland cancer caregiver