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- Cancer pain management without drugs
Find out about support groups, where to get information and...
- Cancer pain management without drugs
- Deliver meals.
- Help Keep Their Household Running.
- Give The Primary Caregiver A break.
- Drive The Patient to and from Appointments.
- Take Notes During Appointments.
- Visit.
- Take Care of Their children.
- Make Their Living Space comfortable.
- Give A Self-Care Gift Bag.
- Stay Connected.
Organize friends and family to take turns preparing and bringing meals while the patient recovers. You don’t even have to cook; you can get takeout delivered. Or you could take care of the grocery shopping, or order groceries online and have them delivered.
Cook, clean, mow the lawn, do the laundry, wash dishes, make sure the bills get paid, get the kids dressed for school, walk the dog and do all the things that the person in cancer treatment would normally do to keep life going for the rest of the family.
Go to doctor’s appointments in the caregiver’s place, help with the kids or pets, organize medications, or send the patient’s spouse, parent or child off for a massage or a night or weekend to unwind. This can ease the caregiver’s stressand give them the energy to keep going.
Even when treatment is over, drive them to checkups and scans. They may not show it, but cancer patients often have a lot of anxiety about these appointments, even years after treatment. A friendly face and someone to talk to can make a big difference.
Patients’ memories can be foggyduring and after treatment, and the amount of information they receive can be overwhelming. Taking notes during appointments or when the doctor or nurse stops by can ensure they have the information they need later.
Days can seem very long when you’re hospitalized, and a visit from a friend or family member can make a big difference. Just keep in mind that cancer patients often struggle with fatigue, so don’t stay too long – unless they ask you to stay longer.
Take them to school or sports practice, help with homework, or have them over for a slumber party or playdate. This can help take the kids’ minds off of cancer and ease their parents’ stress.
Patients who travel out of town for treatment may have temporary living accommodations in apartments or at the homes of loved ones. Consider bringing the patient's bed sheets and pillows from home or family pictures and artwork that reminds them of home. This can help them feel comfortable while they’re away from home.
Patients may struggle to prioritize self-care during treatment. Gift them a bag filled with unscented lotion, fuzzy socks, lip balm, a journal and other items so they can pamper themselves and feel good during treatment.
Text, call, email, etc. One idea is to coordinate a phone chain among friends. Each day at a specific time, a friend calls and checks in with the patient. This is a great way to let the patient know you’re thinking of them.
- Your feelings. If someone you know is diagnosed with cancer, you will probably want to help. But you might not know what you can do. Or you may have trouble finding the right words when speaking to them.
- Diagnosis. When someone you know is diagnosed with cancer, it can be frightening. You may worry about the treatment they will have, or how your lives may change.
- Talking about diagnosis. You may worry about how the person with cancer will react if you talk to them about their diagnosis. You may feel unsure about what to do if they cry or get angry.
- Treatment. The main cancer treatments are: surgery. radiotherapy. chemotherapy. hormonal therapies. targeted therapies. immunotherapies. Often a combination of more than one type of treatment is used.
Find out about support groups, where to get information and how to get involved with Macmillan where you live. There are non-drug treatments and therapies that can help with pain from cancer and cancer treatments. Physical therapies and talking therapies may help.
We asked our CaringBridge community to share the best ways they’ve offered and received support in this challenging time. They came up with some truly amazing ideas. Here are a few ways you can support a loved one with cancer: Stay in touch with them. Be a good listener.
Resources. How to support someone with cancer. There are lots of ways you can give someone with cancer practical and emotional support, but remember to keep your relationship as normal and balanced as possible. What’s the best way to support a person with cancer?
In advanced cancer, palliative treatment might help someone to live longer and more comfortably, even if they cannot be cured. Palliative treatment is not just about medicines to control symptoms - such as painkillers and anti sickness drugs. Cancer treatments can also reduce or get rid of symptoms.
