If someone who is close to you is diagnosed with cancer, you should expect to be deeply affected. The right thing to do is to provide your friend or relative with all the support you can offer. The following article is filled with tips you need to know about if you are close to someone with cancer.
It is very important to let your loved on know that you are here for them. It is common for cancer patients to feel lost and alone when they learn about the diagnosis. Keep in mind that your friend or relative will probably need some time alone. Encourage them to give you a call once they feel ready to talk about their condition. Try being available to help your loved one anytime they need you. If you cannot follow through with a commitment, try letting your friend know in advance and find someone else who can help them.
You can be helpful by simply driving your loved one to their different appointments. Your friend or relative will probably have to go see their doctor regularly, undergo treatments at the hospital and meet with a counselor if they have a hard time coping with their cancer. These appointments will be a lot less stressful if your loved one can rely on you for transportation. Get a schedule of their appointment in advance so you can take some time off work or cancel your other obligations.
If your loved one has to go through chemotherapy to treat their cancer, they will probably have to stay in bed for at least a full day after each treatment. Take your loved one home after the treatment and run a few errands for them. Make sure they have plenty of food and can easily access everything they will need. Offer to stay with your loved one until they feel better if they do not have enough energy to get out of bed.
Help your loved one with all their paperwork. Your friend or relative will have to send their medical bills to their insurance and follow up with the hospital to make sure they received payments from their insurance. Some cancer patients become quickly overwhelmed. You should offer to help with the paperwork and assist your friend in managing their finances to make sure they can pay for their treatment.
Help your friend forget about their cancer once in a while. It will be easier for your loved one to fight against their cancer if they keep a positive attitude. You should call your friend or relative once a day to cheer them up and help them stay motivated. Find some fun activities you can do together, if possible things that will help your loved one get some exercise. Make your friend or relative laugh as much as possible and avoid bringing up their cancer if they seem like they need to be distracted for a while.
These different tips will help you become the ideal friend for your loved one with cancer. Helping a close friend or relative with cancer is not easy but you can make a real difference if you try hard.