I think one of the things I would have liked to have had at the beginning was a feeling of more control. You get swept along so fast that sometimes you think you have no choice, you just have to go with what is recommended. It's all so scary, your overwhelmed with information and fear.
This. Honestly dedicate as much time as you can to the psychology of it all. How you're likely to feel, how you can cope with those feelings, recommend seeking help and opening dialogues. Give out the reassurance that questions aren't rude. That what happens to you ultimately is your own choice and help people not to feel so powerless.
I didn't tell anyone about my diagnosis outside of immediate family who weren't equipped to talk with me about it for at least a month, and I wasn't even on the forum yet. I was just - alone. Even though family were present at my consults, I didn't get the treatment I wanted, because I thought what I wanted it didn't matter.
I would have liked someone to just talk me through any of it. I didn't google or youtube anything because I'd been advised not to, and if there'd been a link to something like this in the handbook it would have been such a comfort.