7 Ways Cancer Affects More than the Patient ...

Jennifer

There's no denying that cancer affects more than just the patient. Guest contributor Jennifer Gilligan shares exactly how this deadly illness results in a difficult and trying time for everyone involved.

Cancer is the disease that can remove any sense of hope while planting a seed of hopelessness. Some think it only affects the people it is infecting, but they are sadly mistaken. Cancer affects everyone around them as well. Here are a few ways cancer affects the people around the patient, and ways to cope with it.

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1. Stress

Caregivers have an elevated stress level. A lot of times they don’t know what the results of their loved one’s tests are going to be and that can be nerve wracking in itself. It can increase the stress hormone in the body, trigger you into a state of crisis which may cause you to overeat, cause insomnia due to worry, and bring up a myriad other health issues. However, caregivers, friends, and family all need to realize that their stressing over the situation will only reflect negatively on the patient.

2. Fatigue

Most caregivers start to feel their flames dwindle over time. It’s completely normal to feel like you’re at the end of your rope and just want to drop on the first couch you see, but it can also be taxing on the one you’re giving care to. While a lot of caregivers tend to spread themselves too thin, some have found themselves beyond «spread thin». In fact, many caregivers have actually tired themselves out beyond the point of exhaustion and well to the point of critical illness themselves. Too much fatigue can wreak serious havoc on the body’s immune system, which makes it wholly vulnerable to a host of diseases and illnesses. Yikes!

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3. Depression and Isolation

When dealing with disease, it’s easy for people to become disheartened and greatly annoyed. However, when dealing with diseases in the cancer family like lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and other horrible organ wreaking cancers it’s easy for caregivers to be a little less than ready to deal with the real world. Often times, the caregivers will see the state their loved one is in and want to become isolated from the situation. They may even become depressed, especially, if the doctor’s prognosis is grimmer than they thought it would be. This, in turn, can lead to the patient becoming grayer and less hopeful.

4. The Rebound: Find out More

Dealing with cancer is horrible. However, you can find out more about the disease especially when you know what caused it. For example, it’s become pretty easy to find videos about mesothelioma in the last decade or so. These videos can help get a grasp on the issues your loved ones are facing while helping you to feel more empowered about what’s going on. When the phrase «knowledge is power» was coined, they knew what they were doing. Finding information on any disease has become much easier in this information age, so don’t let the «mystery of illness» stump you. It’s no longer a mystery.

5. The Rebound: Beat Stress

If you’re stressing about a loved one, stop it. That’s only making their recovery time slower. Keep a journal with you at all times and write down their progress and how you’re feeling about the situation. This may help you gain further insight into what is working and what isn’t so you can be better prepared to face whatever is coming next. Also, take walks with your loved one. If they’re wheelchair bound, then go ahead and take them for a stroll. Fresh air does the body good!

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6. The Rebound: Get Some Rest

Spending countless hours with your loved one is great, but you need to also get some sleep. If you feel like you can’t leave their side, try setting up in their home for a little while. This will appease your need to be around them at all times and will help you get a little extra sleep while you’re at it. A tired body can’t function properly and you’ll need all of your strength and smiles to keep taking care of your loved ones.

7. The Rebound: Socialize

Don’t let yourself become depressed because you’ve managed to isolate yourself. If nothing else, hang out with your other friends and family and bring your loved ones with you. If you want to see their faces brighten, by all means, take them with you wherever you go. It’ll be good for both of you to enjoy a little R&R with each other. Who knows, that might be exactly what you need to help them beat the dreaded C-word.

Have you had to deal with cancer?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Maria, this is so true. I am too a survivor, I had advance stage neck cancer and only given 6 months and now in remission for more then four years, less then 9 months to be declared cured. I never would have had courage to live if it were not for my caring family, awesome team of doctors and nurses, and my own strive to thrive. I lost almost everything to cancer, my teaching career, my husband's career because he is my caregiver now, my ability to walk or eat like everyone else, our home, our social life and all of our social friends, but we didn't lose each other. I may have gotten cancer while pregnant but we now have the most adorable son who is top of his class and who is so full of life. I realize now how silly simple days seemed so long ago, but would never trade a single moment with our son for any of those days. All I needed to survive was think of our most adorable son's smile and that was reason to fight. Every day throughout treatment with no hair and wasting away from surgery/chemo/radio therapy my husband stood by my side and told me I was the most beautiful girl ever. He gave up everything too in order to show me how important I am, we are, our son is, our family. So we live for each other now.

Thyroid Cancer Feb. 27, 2013. Personally shut myself off from anyone not family (bad idea). I have found a FB support group for Thyca has been my saving grace, really helped me with understanding what was happening and what to expect. To be honest the amount of times I've heard its atleast the "good" cancer from docs and family I felt pretty isolated. It doesnt seem good when you feel sick everyday. Support groups, connecting with others fighting yhe same battle has been my saving grace. Always keep in mind there is such a thing as too much info, some is inaccurate and just plain scarey.

My mum past away last year

I was diagnosed with stomach cancer on June 13 2012. It is the hardest thing I have ever been through. The recovery stage has been hard too. If it wasn't for my family friends and my faith I would have never gotten through it. I was so overwhelmed too by the help I received from total strangers. There are so many good people out there. My advice to any one going through this. Be strong and you are not alone.

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