Many people who receive a cancer diagnosis simply live with it as a part of their daily lives.
A diagnosis is not the end, it’s simply the beginning of a new reality.
The new reality involves lots of diagnostic tests, waiting rooms, medications and many, many appointments.
That means a lot more people and their loved ones will be going through this unfortunate experience.
There will be many emotional moments during this journey that can overwhelm you both.
Those are justyourfeelings, so can you imagine what your loved one is feeling during this time?
It’s important to face it together and support your loved one.
Gretchen Kubacky, Health Psychologist.
“When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, their world suddenly stops.
Joseph Medical Center, Cancer Institute.
Sometimes it’s hard for a loved one to focus on the facts when they are overwhelmed.
They will likely be overwhelmed with a lot of information and emotions.
“Patients are often bombarded with information and choices.
Staying informed is really important, but ensure you are researching from reliable sources.
Stick to relying on your health care professionals for answers to any of your questions.
Allowing patients to ask the “what if” questions allows them to focus on healing.
Being able to verbalize your concerns allows you to get the smaller elephants out of the room.
It’s truly best to not jump to any conclusions no matter what the situation.
Talking to each other about your concerns and fears is difficult, but important.
confirm they know you are there to talk anytime they need.
“Family members can tend to treat patients with ‘kid gloves’ and become overly protective.
This can actually be very frustrating for patients.”
Sometimes a person might not even know they needed the help until you offered it.
It shakes up your entire world and forces you to face some scary realities.
That’s why self-care is more critical than ever for you and your loved one.
“Meditation, yoga, rest, relief caregivers, good healthy food and water it all matters.”
Encourage your loved ones to get screened regularly because most cancers can be caught and treated early.
The best way to fight cancer is to get ahead of it!
