5 Ways to Support Someone Living with Cancer

5 Ways to Support Someone Living with Cancer

Cancer is an extremely difficult disease to live with. A cancer diagnosis can be emotionally, physically, and financially draining for the patient as well as their loved ones. On top, there is a lot of pain and suffering that comes with the treatment. Many patients have to take time off work, and some can’t even get out of bed from being so sick or in pain. There is a lot of anger, frustration, and sadness associated with it all, which makes having cancer a very difficult thing to deal with every day. If someone you know is diagnosed with cancer, there are many ways that you can help them through this period in their lives.

1. Offer to Buy a Wig

Many cancer patients lose their hair from the treatment. This makes them feel highly self-conscious and can cause a lot of anxiety as well as depression. Offering to buy your loved one a wig is an incredibly thoughtful gesture that they will appreciate. It’s also relatively inexpensive compared to other things you could offer, making it great for those on a budget.

Wigs are not just for women either! Men can also lose their hair from treatment, which is something that all genders should be aware of.

2. Help with House Chores

When someone is sick or in a lot of pain, it can be very hard to take care of the basics – cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Loved ones should try to help out as much as possible by offering their assistance with these chores. This will free up some time for your loved ones that they desperately need if diagnosed with cancer. They will be able to focus on getting better and resting without having all that stress of running errands or cooking.

3. Be Understanding and Patient

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, it can be a very emotional and challenging time. It’s easy to lash out at your dear ones because of the stress they may cause or their inability to communicate properly due to medications. Try your best not to react emotionally when this happens; instead, try being understanding about what they are going through and patient with them. Try your best to be there for them in this difficult time and let them know that everything will be okay no matter what happens next.

4. Don’t Talk about Death

Staring cancer in the face is not easy. Many people will try to give advice or even bring up death, but this can be highly upsetting for someone with cancer, and it’s best to avoid doing so when possible. Instead, try to talk about positive things and all the good times you have had with them. If they are open to it, try talking about future goals or plans but keep in mind that some people may not be able to handle this if their illness is particularly bad.

5. Support Them Financially

Many cancer patients have to take time off work, and some even lose their jobs because they can no longer perform like they used to. This is a significant burden on most people, but there are ways that you can help your loved one financially by offering financial assistance in the form of groceries or gas cards. If they need extra money for transportation, try offering to drive them or give out your vehicle.