How To Help Someone Diagnosed With Cancer - Kansas City Home Health

No two people who get cancer ever react identically, nor do their family and friends. Each person must be allowed to cope with cancer in his own way. Your role should be to support the person in whatever way necessary.

• Step One Lighten a cancer patient's emotional burden by just being there.
• Step Two - Avoid the "everything will be all right" attitude. He understands that everything may not turn out all right, and false cheeriness is not what is needed.
• Step Three - Emphasize any "good news" portions of the diagnosis. It's okay to dwell on a positive test result, or a promising treatment option mentioned by the doctor.
• Step Four - Prepare to change roles or play new ones. If a husband has been diagnosed with cancer, he may not be up to continuing all of his usual duties. Allow him to be vulnerable, and not always feel the need to be in control and strong.
• Step Five - Be a patient's advocate, if he so desires. Do research about the cancer; scout out cancer specialists; learn everything there is to know about the type of cancer he has and its treatments.
• Step Six -  Access your local library for medical reference books. Go online, searching sites such as Johns Hopkins Medical Center, the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic.
• Step Seven - Write down his questions and bring them to the attention of the oncologist at the next appointment. If the doctor is too busy, ask a nurse. The nurse has constant access to the doctor, and will be sure to follow up with your questions and concerns.
• Step Eight - Help with the mundane, everyday tasks of life or contact American Companion Care to help. Meals and evenings can be especially lonely and anxiety-provoking. Be there or have someone be there to wash dishes, sort laundry, and help pay bills.
• Step Nine - Know when to seek extra help. Sometimes your presence and support won't be enough. You may want to ask the patient's minister or rabbi, the hospital's social worker, or a cancer survivor to stop by the home and offer counsel. You may also want to schedule some in-home assistance from an agency. American Companion Care can provide assistance from a few hours to 24 hours a day should extra help be needed.

Step 7 mentioned asking questions and taking notes at your loved ones doctors appointments. Take this worksheet to your next Doctor's appointment and use it as a tool to record answers to these important questions. Click Here for this free resource - Chemotherapy Questions to Ask your Doctor.

If you would like more information about respit care for your loved one or how to better care for someone with cancer, please do not hesitate to Contact Us or to request a Free Information Packet.