Treatment of a cancer patient doesn't begin and end at the doctor's office, hospital or at chemotherapy sessions. Cancer patients will need treatment in the form of tender loving care from the day they are diagnosed until the end of their battle, whether the battle ends fortunately or unfortunately. Caring for a cancer patient takes strength, selflessness and understanding.
Instructions
1. Accompany the patient to all doctor and hospital visits. Keep track of appointments, know all medications and dosages and be familiar with all aspects of the patient's treatments. Be prepared to receive good or bad news and to provide immediate emotional support if bad news arrives.
2. Sit with the cancer patient as he receives chemotherapy treatments. Chemo treatments are time-consuming so help keep the patient entertained either by talking, playing board games, or bringing a toy, video game or portable DVD player. Help the patient focus on other things.
3. Understand the side effects that come with cancer treatments. Some side effects include nausea, vomiting, pain, fatigue and infections around chemo ports.
4. Remind the cancer patient of inspiring stories involving . Gift her with books of cancer survivors' stories, and remind her everyday to be thankful for each day given to them. Encourage her to count her blessings and enjoy each day as if she had never been diagnosed with cancer.
5. Encourage the patient to keep a journal of all his concerns. Ask the patient to make a list every day of the things he is happy for and to imagine that he is healed.
6. Remind the patient of the power of positive thinking, prayer and meditation. Regardless of religious background, spirituality can be an important part of cancer care (see Reference 2 below).
7. Build a support group for the cancer patient. Invite family, friends, co-workers and fellow church members to attend meetings and find ways they can help the patient during treatment. Organize a fundraiser to provide financial support to the cancer patient in her time of need.
Tags: cancer patient, with cancer, cancer patient, cancer survivors, side effects