The diagnosis of cancer upon a loved one can be hard, not only for the person diagnosed, but also for close family and friends.
There is no reduced list of strategies that can really be given when coping with the emotions of a loved one being diagnosed, fighting, or surviving cancer. As a family member or friend, it is important to understand that each person with cancer is different and deals with it in their own way. Cancer is a journey and is different for everyone, not only for the diagnosed, but also for you a co-survivor. Coping emotionally can be hard and a long-term process for both survivor and co – survivor and the diagnosis of cancer can bring out fear, anger, disbelief, sadness, and depression in some survivors. There are a
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For spouses with kids, practical support could be taking and picking the kids from school.
You will find several different coping mechanisms out there, but while on your journey here are a few ideas.
Self-Care Self-care is important for co-survivors. An unhealthy co-survivor isn’t very beneficial to the survivor. Exercise is a helpful tip to reduce stress levels and trying to maintain a healthy eating habits will also help reduce stress. Also, taking personal time to relax is important. Do something that is calming for you as a co-survivor even if it’s just for a moment. Keeping yourself optimistic is going to aid in you helping your survivor continue to be optimistic.
Listen Some may disagree but this is a vital component to social support. Listening is beneficial because relieving all your emotions can be an amazing stress relief. Have you ever had so much built up inside of you and before you knew it, you have went on this long rant about your horrible week and how you just don’t want to go on? Then after you take a deep breath from ranting, you exhale, and doesn’t it feel much better to get all of that off your chest. It’s like a sigh of relief. It’s like all of the pressure that had built up is now gone and some cry afterwards some laugh or smile, but the main point is you never know how meaningful a small conversation or just listening can be to a person battling something like cancer. Try listening without being judgmental or
People tend to usually tremble when hearing the unpleasant word “Cancer”. Imagine being the one diagnosed with this horrible illness. More and more people in today’s society are struck with certain health issues such as diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and many more. Cancer is the at the top of this horrible chain of problems. Based on my experiences, someone that is diagnosed with cancer, does not realize how life can change so rapidly for them. Their whole lifestyle changes and they have a different outlook on life. Not until a person experiences a family member going through cancer, is he/she able to understand how important spending time with family really is.
When people think of cancer, many automatically murmur negative things. For example, death, Chemotherapy, hair loss, and other symptoms of feeling fragile. What people do not know is that even though you can see the patient suffering physically, their family is also being affected as well. Being a daughter of a mother with Colon cancer has affected me emotionally, spiritually, and virtually.
Cancer has one of the biggest effects on the patients mental health but also the patients loved ones and friends. It is one of the hardest things to get a grip on when the doctor tells someone that they have cancer and a fifty-fifty chance of making it. "The disease can bring many changes-in what people do and how they look, in how they feel and what they value" (Dakota 4). It makes people look at the world and their lives in a different way, valuing now what they took for granted and seeing the bigger picture in every scenario. It is something that no one can actually brace, even after the doctor tells them. Through it all though, the person must remain strong and optimistic because the cancer can affect the person's moods and in return affect the outcome of the person and the chances of their making it
Family caregivers have the important role in assisting their loved one through their cancer experience. Our society needs to acknowledge informal caregivers as a valuable members of the cancer patients healthcare team. Cancer care is becoming increasingly more complicated and difficult. Numerous caregivers are family members and close friends who tend to be unprepared and untrained for their position as caregiver to a older individuals with cancer.
It is hard enough for a cancer patient to deal with everything have going on after they are told they have cancer, but it is devastating to have to tell the ones you love most about your diagnosis. In Stuarts case, he had an
Hearing a diagnosis of cancer leaves most patients in a state of shock and unsure of what their next step should be. While they are still wrapping their brain around the diagnosis, they are being bombarded with information, testing, and multiple physician appointments. They need guidance and support to direct them through the complicated health care system in a timely fashion that reduces the delay in their treatment, as well as assist them in identifying and overcoming any barriers to these delays.
Patient has little stress; because he has great emotional support from his wife and his friends from work. Although, he believe he may have cancer
Support from your friends or family is a very good way of reaching resilience at a faster rate, because they will help you and support you through the struggles that you have encountered in your life. I believe that this is very important and plays a big part, because the people you are with at that moment can help you and encourage you to do things that you normally wouldn’t. People you care about also care for you too, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice.
Comfort family and loved ones. Rational- patient may not remember their family and that could be very upsetting to the family, remind them that it is the disease talking not their loved
This chapter written by Rose and Daste provide mental health professionals with information and recommendations to establish sensitivity within the make-up of the groups supporting those with cancer (Grief & Ephros, 2010). The authors also provide insight on the complexities and differences among a group of people that have a generally similar medical diagnosis, such as cancer, but a myriad of uniqueness (Grief & Ephros, 2010).
Cancer is usually a terrifying word. Those who have never received a diagnosis of cancer, likely cannot fathom the anxiety such an event produces. Even forms of cancer that are highly treatable often bring about significant and immediate life changes for patients. Hopefully, the ideas from this article can help to demystify cancer, and make it somewhat easier to cope with the disease and its effects.
When she died five years after first symptoms ,the cancer had spread throughout her body over those five years. My mother was very depressed
I realized that I myself have not dealt with a patient who has just found out about a diagnosis of a specific cancer. It was hard to identify with his patient personally in an emotional/physical way. Since I had not dealt with this previously, I tried to put myself in her shoes and to realize and take into consideration everything she was saying. I asked her what it feels like within her body and what her pain characteristics were. She stated “aching and constant pain all over” as an example of how she herself would describe her pain. I also wanted to change any stimuli that may have been a trigger. I decreased the stimulation by closing the blinds, lights, turning the volume down of the TV, helping the patient back to bed, and closing the door (which the patient agreed to and verbalized it was helpful).
People with the sign of Cancer are often receptive, sensitive, and kind, but also susceptible. Emotions are a very important part in the life of a Cancerian. Although naturally defensive and very afraid of being hurt, they put their hearts and soul in to relationships and
The easiest and, perhaps most difficult, way that you can help your loved one is to simply be there for them and provide them with emotional support. Everyone needs a sounding