EDITOR'S NOTE
 
English
 
FOCUS ON
 
What Is Cancer?
 
The Face Of A Cancer Cell
 
Cancer Cell Targeting Therapies
 
SURVIVORS WORLD
 
A Time for Change
 
SUPPORT
 
Living With Cancer
 

Living With Cancer

By Gilbert Fan, Manager,
Dept of Psychosocial Oncology, NCC

Strategies in Caring

Family members and caregivers can help to enhance the patient’s quality of life during treatment and post-treatment phases. It is thus important to understand the dynamics of care between the patient and themselves. Some helpful strategies are:

(1)
Motivating & setting short-term goals

Cancer patients may be faced with major psychological and social reactions that can slow down their recovery. They may show general disinterest, harbour denial and resistance towards treatment, indulge in self-pity and may experience low mood. Motivation and goal setting must then be realistic, well-paced and structured (people, place and time orientation). It must be consistent in order to have any real impact on the patient.
Strategies in relating with a cancer patient:
reassure & re-orientate when necessary
keep to treatment regime and any routine
inform & educate
don’t talk down
don’t raise false hope
encourage & touch
be patient
praise & reinforceevery small attempt to improve

(2)
Managing expectations

Cancer treatment and rehabilitation can be very long-drawn. As a result of the long period of treatment, care-givers and family members could face intense stress, anxiety and fear. They may become over-protective and minimize the patient’s recovery potentials. For some, when their energy levels go down but the patient’s expectations of care remain the same as the initial stage, caregivers and family members may tend to dehumanize the patient (ie. ignoring that the patient has feelings or is capable of understanding) as their means of coping.

(3)
Assisting in the adjustment of role & adaptation to the environment

Caregivers and family members must help the cancer patient to find a new ‘fit’ in his / her life. New roles and new tasks can be created to facilitate change. For some cancer patients, change could be quite major if their illnesses have robbed them of their previous social status, their aspirations and their responsibilities. It would be helpful for caregivers and family members to help the patient to compensate these losses by creating appropriate opportunities.
(4)
Allowing the cancer patient to grieve

Grieving is a normal process of acknowledging a change in lifestyle or a loss. The cancer patient has to acknowledge any change in personal and social circumstances, and possible losses in body image and functions. Caregivers and family members need to provide a listening ear to hear their stories – their expressions of essential concerns and of survival.

The relationship between family members, particularly the caregiver and the cancer patient is a precarious one in that there may be differences in perceptions over treatment and rehabilitation / recovery outcomes. Caregivers may have the tendency to push the patient in rehabilitation beyond his / her capabilities. This can further aggravate the already frustrated and possibly distressed patient. Anxiety, fear, anger and frustrations over the loss of independence / functions can arise. Very often, patients need time to adjust and rebuild their confidence.


Both psychological and social acceptance must be present in order for the cancer patient to complete treatment, rehabilitation and recovery. Acceptance is often difficult because our meritocratic society values the fittest and hence has less patience for the less perfect being. Cancer is often associated with uncertainties, sufferings and death. Its potency is often almost felt quite immediately. It is thus often acknowledged by many behavioural scientists that the cultural and subjective interpretation of cancer is as important as the physical symptoms of the illness itself. Acceptance can only be achieved if we can communicate with cancer patients openly and to treat them with respect. If we are preoccupied with the disease, cancer patients would also learn to be even more preoccupied with their own condition and mortality too. When communicating with the cancer patient, there should be a balance in focusing between the disease and the person himself/herself.

Patients’ tasks in self-help:
adopt a holistic perspective of self/body image (instead of focusing on the loss of image, independence/function)
focus on overall achievements in treatment, rehabilitation performance and interpersonal relationships over a period of time (do not focus on situational setbacks in treatment, rehabilitation performance/ interpersonal relationships)
monitor your rehabilitation performance (avoid pushing yourself beyond your limits or under perform) be compliant with your treatment regime.







CAN-HELP TIPS
 
Getting Antioxidants in Your Cup of Tea
 
PILL BOX
 
“Magic Bullets” – Are They Free of Side Effects?
 
WHAT'S UP,
WHAT'S NEW?
 
English
 
CAN-HELP NEWS EDITORIAL
 
FAQ