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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?