Going through cancer treatment during the holidays can make it difficult to embrace what has typically been one of the happier times of the year. Patients and families may struggle with how they can celebrate when they or someone close to them is coping with cancer. Patients wonder if they will feel well enough to enjoy the holidays when they going through radiation treatment, receiving chemotherapy or recovering from surgery. There are questions about whether they will have the energy to participate in family celebrations and worries about what the coming year will bring. While everyone else is moving ahead with holiday preparations and celebrations, many of our patients are facing a very uncertain future. They may feel pressured (by themselves or others) to carry on with the traditional holiday rituals, even though they may not have the physical or emotional energy to do so.

As the holiday season gets into full swing, here are some tips for families affected by cancer.

Focus on your own well-being

Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, first and foremost you have to focus on your own wellbeing. Eat well, ensure that you get your rest — including naps — and stay hydrated. Do not abandon your regular routines to accommodate the hectic holidays as these routines are what have helped you cope so far. Allow yourself to do less than you are accustomed to doing during this season and allow yourself to ask for help, whether that is with picking up gifts or bringing in food or helping with decorating and cleaning. Try to limit your visits and visitors to friends and family that share or respect your approach to COVID precautions.

It’s OK to say no

Remember that it is OK to say no. You do not have to accept every invitation or accommodate every request. Most importantly, be flexible. Make plans with the understanding that you may have to reschedule or change plans depending on how you or your loved one is feeling that day – and let people know that when you accept or offer an invitation. Cancer and its treatments weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off viruses and making you more vulnerable to COVID. With this in mind, limiting your outings and contacts becomes even more reasonable from both an energy-conservation perspective but also from a health-related perspective.

Plan ahead

Clinic closures may be a source of stress for you or your loved one. It is important to know what dates your Cancer Centre is closed over the holidays and who to contact in the off hours if you run into difficulty. Ensure that you have enough of all your prescription medication to last through the holidays.

Prepare for questions

The family and friends you see over the holidays may ask questions about your diagnosis and how you are doing. Allow people the benefit of the doubt that their questions are expressions of concern. But know also that you do not need to explain your medical situation or provide any information beyond what you are comfortable disclosing. It may be helpful to coordinate an exit plan with one of your caregivers if you feel their questions or inquiries are becoming overwhelming.

Remember things may be different – but try not to focus on those differences

This season may not be like holidays from the past so try not to pressure yourself to make it so. The past two years of COVID have prepared many people to expect different or less over the holiday season. Give yourself permission to do what feels safe and comfortable to you. You may come away with new traditions while still being able to participate — instead of making the whole Christmas dinner, offer to host a potluck. Or hand the tradition to a sibling or child. Try not to focus on what might be missing, on what tradition wasn’t kept, or on what might be different about this year’s holiday season from those in the past. Rather, try to focus on the moment and enjoy your celebration in whatever form it takes. Remember what the holidays are truly about – a time for being thankful and sharing with others.

If you have concerns about how to cope with the stress of the holidays, talk to your health care provider and let them know how you are feeling.  Support is available through the Patient and Family Support Program at the Odette Cancer Centre. Wellspring also has various support programs available.

This blog has been updated from a previous version.

The post Tips for handling the holidays with a cancer diagnosis appeared first on Your Health Matters.

One of the most important, and often forgotten, things you can do as a caregiver is to care for yourself. “Self-care” is any activity that you do that helps you maintain your physical, mental or emotional health and in so doing allows you to give of yourself to others.

The instructions you receive before an airplane takes off are probably the best example of self-care. Before any flight, you are advised that if there is an emergency and you need oxygen, put your own mask on first before helping others. This reason is simple: if you pass out as a result of a lack of oxygen, you can’t help others. The same can be said for caregiving: if you do not take care of yourself, if you “burnout” or become sick due to lack of sleep, poor diet, etc., you make yourself incapable of helping the person next to you.

Caregivers may think taking time for themselves to rest or spend time with their friends makes them selfish because there is someone who needs them – this is not so. Caring for yourself ensures that you have the strength and ability to continue caring for others.

Self-care tips for caregivers

Eat healthy – maintaining a balanced diet is one of the best ways to maintain your health and energy.

Exercise – this may sound like the last thing you want to do when you are already physically drained from your caregiving responsibilities, but it is one of the best things you can do for yourself. A brisk walk, a yoga session, a swim at the local pool…it doesn’t have to be Olympic-quality, just something that gets your heart rate up and your mind off the tasks at hand. If you can do some kind of activity outside, even better – the sun and fresh air will renew you.  Try scheduling an activity with a friend so that you have less chance of cancelling and the added benefit of their company.

Take care of your own health – caregivers are prone to neglecting their own health and often fall ill as a result. Visit your own doctor and take your regular medications in order to maintain your own health. Try to learn the best way to provide physical care to your family member, such as how to assist them from a wheelchair to their bed, to prevent injuring yourself.

Plan regular breaks – make arrangements for a family member, a friend, a volunteer, or a professional to relieve you of your duties. Use that time to do something you enjoy – read a book, take a walk, or go to a movie. Reassure the person you are caring for that someone will be there to meet their needs while you are out.

Treat yourself – do something that you would have done B.C. – before caregiving – that would bring you pleasure such as a pedicure, or a massage, or night out with the guys to watch a game. Let go of the guilt you might have about wanting to feel happiness – you are entitled to have your own enjoyment and it will reinvigorate you.

Try to get enough sleep –  when we have more to do, sleep is often where we compromise. Being well rested is necessary in order for you to provide care to your family member. Try to practice good sleep hygiene, which includes trying to schedule regular bed time and waking times, taking a warm bath before bed, avoiding TV and computers before bed, and avoiding alcohol or caffeine in the evening. Oftentimes your caregiving will interrupt your nighttime sleep – when this happens, sleep when you can but stick to catnaps (eg. 20 minutes) during the day to avoid falling into a REM sleep and tricking your body into thinking it has had adequate rest and then making it difficult to get back to sleep at night.

Keep connected – it is easy to isolate yourself when your energies are necessarily focused on your family member.  Despite feeling tired or less than social, it is important to stay connected with the friends who support you. If you can’t physically get out with friends, take time each day to stay connected through email, phone or social media to ease the possible sense of isolation you might feel.

Include others – You don’t have to do it all. Let other friends and family know you need time to yourself so that they know to step in and give you that much needed break. There is never shame in asking.

Find humour – get a daily dose of humour by reading something funny or watching a comedy on TV. Laughter really is the best medicine.

Most importantly, be aware of the signs of burnout – some signs of burnout include withdrawing from friends and family, a loss of interest in activities you enjoyed in the past, feeling, irritable, hopeless, and helpless, changes in appetite or weight, getting sick more often and overuse of use of alcohol or sleep medications.

If you see any of these signs in yourself, try any of the ideas already mentioned or reach out for professional support. TorontoCentralhealthline.ca is a good place to start to find caregiver supports in your area.

The post How to care for yourself while caring for someone else appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Going through cancer treatment during the holidays can completely change your perspective during what should be one of the happiest times of the year. Patients and families struggle with how they can celebrate when they or someone close to them is coping with cancer. Patients wonder if they will feel well enough to enjoy the holidays when they going through radiation treatment, receiving chemotherapy or recovering from surgery. There are questions about whether they will have the energy to participate in family celebrations and worries about what the coming year will bring. While everyone else is moving ahead with holiday preparations and celebrations, our patients are facing a very uncertain future. They may feel pressured (by themselves or others) to carry on with the traditional holiday rituals, even though they may not have the physical or emotional energy to do so.

As the holiday season gets into full swing, here are some tips for families affected by cancer.

Focus on your own well-being.

Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, first and foremost you have to focus on your own wellbeing.  Eat well, ensure that you get your rest — including naps — and stay hydrated. Do not abandon your regular routines to accommodate the hectic holidays as these routines are what have helped you cope so far. Allow yourself to do less than you are accustomed to doing during this season and allow yourself to ask for help, whether that is with picking up gifts or bringing in food or helping with decorating and cleaning.

It’s OK to say no.

Remember that it is OK to say no. You do not have to accept every invitation or accommodate every request.  Most importantly, be flexible and know that, even if plans have been made, you may have to reschedule or change plans depending on how you or your loved one is feeling that day – and let people know that when you accept or offer an invitation.

Plan ahead.

Clinic closures may be a source of stress for you or your loved one. It is important to know what dates the cancer centre is closed over the holidays and who to contact in the off hours if you run into difficulty. Ensure that you have enough of all your prescription medication to last through the holidays

Prepare for questions.

Inevitably, family and friends you see over the holidays may ask questions about your diagnosis and how you are doing. Allow people the benefit of the doubt that their questions are expressions of concern. But know also that you do not need to explain your medical situation or provide any information beyond what you are comfortable disclosing. It may be helpful to coordinate an exit plan with one of your caregivers if you feel their questions or inquiries are becoming overwhelming.

Remember things may be different – but try not to focus on those differences.

This holiday season is not like all the others so do not pressure yourself to make it so. Give yourself the time and the permission to make changes and create new traditions this year that make it easier for you to participate. Instead of making the whole Christmas dinner, offer to host a potluck. Or hand the tradition to a sibling or child.  Try not to focus on what might be missing, on what tradition wasn’t kept, or on what might be different about this year’s holiday season from those in the past. Rather, try to focus on the moment and enjoy your celebration in whatever form it takes. Remember what the holidays are truly about – a time for being thankful and sharing with others.

If you have concerns about how to cope with the stress of the holidays, talk to your health care provider and let them know how you are feeling.  Support is available through the Patient and Family Support Program at the Odette Cancer Centre. Wellspring also has various support programs available.

The post Coping with cancer during the holiday season appeared first on Your Health Matters.