Cancer represents an impact to the affected party and the surrounding environment both: partner, family, friends, work … These consequences affect psychological, social and economical manner. One can say that the loved ones of cancer patients suffer in the same areas as the patient. So there same family support groups and patients; These groups offer psychological and informative to guide and help manage every situation support.
It is difficult to determine patterns of behavior, since each situation is different and not comparable in many cases; but they can give some general guidelines:
- Family is important, but the patient is the protagonist of the situation so the environment must adapt to it. Be careful not to impose fun activities supposedly appetizing meals, participate in social events … especially at first. If a year after diagnosis this persists, consult a qualified professional or try gently speak to the patient.
- Do not press the patient to have a lively and positive attitude. It can be harmful for him / her feel compelled to show a joy that does not feel and, instead, let off steam, mourn, show anger, can help at first to their future adaptation. If this negative attitude is established as a routine, it’s time to consult a specialist, but not before it has passed the first treatments.
- Think about how your loved was before cancer. Try to see the logic of their reactions and their performances at this time, to see if they agree with your way of being normal. This will help you not take things out of context and anxious thinking that everything has changed, nothing is as before or he or she will never be the / the same. Surely it is the same person but under the fear and anguish.
- Ask yourself how they have faced together stressful situations in the past. This will help you make determinations and to feel more confident that this too can be overcome.
- If you are not sure what it will do try not to make decisions yourself. This refers to choose treatments or to give to others. If you pose different possibilities do not take hasty decisions. If the patient participate in decisions that speak calmly and always ask that they deem necessary a second or third opinion.
Help your sick family member to see the reactions of others under a prism as objective as possible. You may feel seen by friends or coworkers. Help him to see if that is true or that he / she is very susceptible to the reactions of others.
It is important to stay together and go to specialized personnel whenever necessary. The environmental support is vital for the patient overcome the disease.
For more information, visit Family and Cancer