12-1-09

Dealing with Cancer During the Holidays

Dealing with cancer is very stressful for both patients and their families and the stress can increase during the holidays.

Families who have someone diagnosed with cancer are faced with multiple stresses caused both by the disease and by seasonal activities.  But, Chad Noggle (like goggle), assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says the holidays can be enjoyable for the individuals with cancer and their families.  He offers these suggestions.

SOUND BITE: “. . . proceed as you normally would as much as possible, but be flexible.  Holidays are special times, remember this can be a time of escape for your loved one.  However, physically they may have some limitations that if you take into account ahead of time, you can make the time together that much more rewarding and less overwhelming for them.”

Noggle says communication is the key to getting through the holidays.  He advises families to listen to the concerns of the person with the disease and be there to support and comfort them.

SOUND BITE: “The stress from this disease and treatment can magnify the stress brought about by everyday, weekly and monthly concerns.  So make yourselves available to do what you can to help manage some of those extra things as a means to trying to reduce some of the burden on your loved one that can leave them feeling overwhelmed.  So the first step here is to simply ask What can I or What can we do to help?” 

Noggle says families should involve the person who is ill in the activities and make sure they feel part of the festivities.  He 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 their family physician.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.