The holiday season is a joyful time for many, but it can also be a busy, stressful time – and one that is especially difficult for those receiving treatment for cancer, or those with a loved one who is.
Paula Myers, a clinical social worker at the BC Cancer Agency, provide the following suggestions for coping with cancer during the holidays.
Tips for people coping with cancer:
• Decide which holiday traditions – if any – you want to continue this year. Know that what you decide for this year can be changed.
• Plan in advance how you want to spend your time, with whom, and for how long.
• Delegate holiday tasks and responsibilities to your loved ones.
• Don’t over-extend yourself. Coping with cancer often includes dealing with fatigue and the holidays can be tiring.
• Remember your needs are important, so make time to sleep, rest and reflect. It is especially important during the holidays to take care of yourself, so eat balanced meals, exercise and rest when you need to.
• Know your limits – only do things that you want to do and let go of expectations.
• Give yourself permission to feel and express your feelings, whether of joy, fear, sadness, or pain. Let your emotions and feelings be and don’t try to force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.
• Don’t overindulge in alcohol, it’s a depressant, and it can bring out or heighten bad feelings.
• Allow yourself simple pleasures – hot baths, naps, favourite foods – whatever is meaningful to you.
• Capitalize on good days.
• Learn to say no. You don’t have to participate in everything. People will understand if you cannot do certain activities.
• There is no best way to prepare others, who might not have seen you since you started treatment, so just be yourself.
Tips for people who have family and friends coping with cancer:
• Take the pressure off your loved one with cancer by volunteering to organize holiday gatherings, and offering to prepare meals and do the cleaning.
• Give gifts of presence versus presents.
• Be understanding if your loved one does not wish to participate in certain family traditions this year.
• Ensure your loved one is getting enough rest and eating well.
• Take care of yourself. Supporting a loved one with cancer can be tiring, especially during the emotionally charged holiday season. Make sure you have a support network for yourself.