12-13-05

Dealing with Cancer during the Holidays

Dealing with cancer is very stressful for families and the stress can be increased by the holidays.

Families who have someone diagnosed with cancer are faced with multiple stresses both from the disease and from seasonal activities. Jill Toepfer, a mental health counselor at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says families should work together to plan holiday activities that everyone can enjoy.

SOUND BITE: " . . . it's a time where families tend to have traditions and tend to have expectations for what what should take place, what may take place and depending on the person with cancer and how the illness has affected the individual. Normal traditions may not be possible during the holidays and it may become a matter of figuring out what can be done and how the holidays can be celebrated."

Toepfer says communication is the key to getting through the holidays. She advises families to listen to the concerns of the person with the disease. As much as possible, activities should be planned around their wishes and energy level.

SOUND BITE: "If somebody is struggling with chemotherapy or any other type of treatment that can have negative side effects and can cause fatigue but the individual with cancer would still like to try to do that, it may involve having a back-up plan if fatigue hits. It may also mean that the family will make an entire new plan for this holiday season of what the family can do . . ."

Toepfer says families should involve the person who is ill in the activities and make sure they feel part of the festivities. She recommends that families focus on being together rather than focusing on the illness. If someone has serious difficulty coping with the illness, they should contact a local cancer support group, mental health counselor or family physician.