What would you do if your family or partner got cancer?
Are you confident that you can properly follow up with your family?
Do you know where to start?
It is very likely that this timing will come someday.
Let’s prepare ahead of time for that time!
What to do after a family member is diagnosed with cancer
When a family member is diagnosed with cancer, the news can be shocking and confusing.
However, it is important for family members, not the patient, to remain calm and think about what to do next.
Understanding and gathering information about cancer
First, it is important to fully understand the disease of cancer. Ask your doctor to explain the detailed diagnosis and treatment plan. It is also beneficial for you or one of your family members to research information. However, information is not always reliable, so it is important to obtain it from reliable sources.
First, be sure to first ask the person’s doctor for details and future treatment and plans.
In some cases, the person may be in shock and unable to recover for a few days.
Support them in their daily life.
Second, you need to respect and support the family’s feelings. A cancer diagnosis can have a significant psychological impact, and emotional support is necessary. You will also need to support them in their daily lives, as some medical conditions can limit their daily activities.
In addition, since cancer treatment is often long-term, it is important for the entire family to cooperate and support each other.
Specifically, it is effective to share the roles of housework, childcare, and caregiving, as well as to manage the treatment schedule and provide support for hospital visits.
If possible, it is even better if family members can accompany the patient to the hospital.
Only family members can provide this kind of support.
The patient should not be left on his/her own, but should rely on family members for support.
Sharing information within the family
Another important point is to share information.
By sharing information among family members about the patient’s condition, treatment progress, and emotional state, everyone can have the same understanding of the patient’s condition and provide appropriate support.
↑It is better if the family relationship allows these things to happen naturally! In some cases, family ties have become deeper because of cancer.
If there is only one person in the family who can provide support, the burden on that person will be too great, so if possible, the whole family should follow through.
Provide emotional support to the patient.
The whole family should follow up with the patient so that the cancer patient does not feel lonely.
Support the patient to do his/her favorite hobbies and activities as much as possible so that he/she can lead a less stressful life.
Some people who suffer from cancer become desperate and blame themselves for why they have cancer, while others may become depressed.
If family members cannot cover all the bases, consulting a specialist or counselor may be a good option.
Don’t tire the person you are supporting.
Do not forget to take care of your own mental health.
When a family member is battling cancer, you may feel a great deal of stress yourself. It is important for you to have appropriate relaxation, hobbies, and psychological support if necessary.
Often, when a son or daughter has cancer, the parents worry more than they do about their own son or daughter.
Parents often wonder why their son or daughter is 。。。。
younger than themselves, what have they done? What did they do wrong?
They may blame themselves.
Remember that stress relief and emotional care for the support person is also important.
What if we can’t follow up ourselves?
What if we cannot follow up on our own?
At that time, you should consult your doctor, a team of nurses, specialists, professional counselors, etc.
For example, a case in which a parent has cancer but lives far away due to work and cannot be followed up frequently, or vice versa.
When parents are over 60 years old, children are over 30 years old, and they are often too busy with work, marriage, childcare, etc. to return to their distant family home.
In such cases, relying on family members plus specialists, etc. would be one way.
Summary
In conclusion, when a family member is diagnosed with cancer, it is necessary to cooperate and support yourself and the entire family.
There is no doubt that this will be a huge burden to that family member.
It is also important to consider support from multiple perspectives, including understanding and sharing information, emotional support, lifestyle support, and one’s own emotional care. Above all, it is most important to treat them with love and understanding.
In order to make it as easy as possible on the family as well, a cancer-free life by working on prevention may be the best thing you can do for and with your family members above all else.
Let’s build a cancer-free life together as a family!