How To Help Someone With Cancer
Do you have a friend or a relative who has been diagnosed with cancer? There is a lot you can do to help them. Continue reading this article to find out more.
Instead of just letting the doctors provide treatment, you should actively participate in the treatments in order to fight cancer much better. Stay as involved as possible with any cancer treatment you are getting. You won't get better this way.
Dealing with cancer is a real struggle and your friend or relative will obviously need a lot of support. You should let them know you are here to help. Make them feel comfortable about calling you if they need someone to talk to or if they need help with something. Try getting your common friends or your other relatives involved too.
During your treatment for cancer, you will have a lot of appointments that you need to keep. Ask someone to drive you, pick you up, and take you home. Each treatment may bring fatigue and other side effects that may make it unsafe for you to drive afterwards. It's best to leave the driving to someone else during this time.
Respect their privacy. Someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer is obviously going through a lot of negative emotions and will probably need some space. You should let them know you are available, but do not impose your presence or pressure them into letting you help. If your friend or relative needs to be alone, wait a couple of days before contacting them again.
Shield your skin from the sun to prevent skin cancer. It might seem hard to believe, but the sun can actually harm your skin even through the clouds of overcast weather.
Show interest in the treatment they are undergoing. You should do some research on your own to learn more about the type of cancer your friend or relative has so you can keep up with their explanations. If you are close to the person who has been diagnosed, offer to do some research together or meet with the professional who is treating them so you can both ask questions. This professional will probably offer you some useful advice on how you can help.
It is crucial that you do not share needles with anyone if you want to prevent yourself from getting cancer. Used needles can transmit HIV and hepatitis B, two diseases that can cause cancer as a secondary effect. Discuss any drug use habits you have with your physician.
Offer to go to your friend' or relative's appointments with them. They might need someone to drive or may simply need company to make the hospital less scary. If they undergo chemotherapy, they will probably have to stay in bed for a couple of days after each treatment. You could offer to stay with them so that you can look after them until they feel better. There are plenty of details you can help with; offer to help them keep track of their medical bills or feed their pets if they have to stay at the hospital, for instance. These small gestures will help your friend or relative focus on their treatment.
If a family or friend has cancer, it is helpful for you to go to their appointments with them. Bringing a clear-headed friend or associate along will help you have good communications with your doctor.
You need to help your friend or relative relax and forget about their problems once in a while. Keep them company and find some fun things you can do together. If they have enough energy, offer to go for a walk or plan a fun day at the movies or in an amusement park. If your friend or relative has to stay home, visit them and offer to stay overnight. Look for fun and relaxing things you can do together such as playing games, watching movies or cooking. Pay attention to your friend or relative's mood, and learn to recognize when they need to talk and when they need to be distracted.
Communication is the key! If you feel that you need more support from your friends and family, make sure that you inform them in a nice way. Give them a patient explanation of how they can assist you and why it's important to do so. However, you have to approach this with caution. It can seem like a very difficult thing to deal with. Go forward always using love as the foundation for support. Cross every bridge that is keeping you apart from happiness.
These tips will help you provide your friend or relative with the support they need. Do your best to understand what they are going through but remember that you should not attempt to help them out by yourself; do not hesitate to advise them to go to counseling if you feel like they need help from a professional.
