How to Offer Support to a Family Member with Cancer (Paula Jimenez)

About 50 percent of people with cancer are afflicted by the symptoms of depression. Serious depression occurs to 25 percent of all individuals with cancer, as stated by the National Cancer Institute. Many of them cope with several issues, which may include fear of death, of what is going to happen to them and their families (especially the children) after death, and uncontrolled pain. As a member of the family, you will see them feeling hopeless, struggling to focus, being socially shut off, having problems in sleeping and eating, and a lot more. What can you do to offer him support?

Above all, you will need to think about a lot of factors before giving help. One of them is to determine if he calls for it. Is he showing signs that he wants support from you and the entire family? Yes, you have to face the possibility that some cancer patients refuse to be given assistance or to receive comfort from their loved ones - at least not yet. They may still be in refusal or they want a time for themselves so they can think. If he is like this, leave him as that; never force him but tell him that you are willing to listen if he is prepared to talk. When the time comes that he begins to open up, that is the time for you to deliver care.

Pay attention to everything that the cancer patient says. In some cases, this is the most sensible thing that you can do. Making it possible for him to talk his heart out is the best approach to ease him of the emotional pain. When he looks at you as if he is asking for your comment, say what you know but don't forget to be sensitive of his feelings and to show compassion. Do not overdo or you will make him feel weak. Give him hope through your words or at least make him feel positive about his condition.

Never do a comparison of his situation to others; cancer patients have distinct conditions. You may tend to give him false expectations.

When he cries, give him your shoulder to cry on. Do not simply tell him to stop; make room for sadness. Again, pay attention to his thoughts regardless if they are all negative. Soon as he stops, that is the time to talk with him again. Say what you think about what he states. Give him comforting words.

Try to live the day as normal as possible. Bring him to shopping malls and grocery stores. Take him to a movie date. Ask him to run errands for you. Attend celebrations with him. If his body can do all these things, go on. Let him live an ordinary life. Do not remove him to the society. Talk to him the way you do when he was not clinically diagnosed yet with cancer.

It will not help to give him health advice basing on your own research. Let the doctors manage this thing for him. You may want to help him in some ways like shifting lifestyle or staying on a diet but be sure to make consultation with his doctor first.

Processing ...