Table of contents:
- 1. Prepare yourself
- 2. Position yourself as the patient
- 3. Ask before coming to visit him
- 4. Make plans that are fun for the purpose of being entertaining
- 5. Show your concern
- 6. Make an appointment with your friends or other relatives to visit
- 7. Helping in doing daily tasks
- 8. Communication regularly
- 9. Don't be afraid or hesitate to show empathy and sympathy
Cancer is often called a disease that is deadly and cannot be cured. However, along with advances in technology and science in the health sector, nowadays much can be done to cure cancer patients. Apart from medical treatment and administering drugs, patients with cancer also need psychological therapy to help them through the treatment process.
Patients with cancer not only feel pain in their bodies but also suffer mental health problems. They may experience severe stress, depression, uncontrollable emotions, and be more sensitive. Therefore, it takes a separate way to treat or deal with people who have cancer.
Assistance to cancer patients can affect the success of cancer treatment. Various studies that have been done claim that cancer patients get it support of the people around him can increase the patient's cure rate. If you have friends, relatives, or family who have cancer, here are some ways you can make them feel better.
1. Prepare yourself
Before you meet or interact directly with friends or relatives who are suffering from cancer, you should find out about the type of cancer they have. By knowing as much information as possible about the illness he is suffering from, this will make you more prepared and less surprised to see his condition when he is sick.
2. Position yourself as the patient
Do you remember when you were feeling bad or unwell? Then, how would you like to be treated by others at that time? Patients with cancer usually have physical changes, such as hair loss. Therefore, try to remain who you are and treat him as usual. Think that nothing has changed from your relationship with your friend / relative, so that your friend doesn't feel that you are different from the others.
3. Ask before coming to visit him
This needs to be done so that your friend can determine for himself when the time is right and comfortable to visit. People who are sick have volatile feelings and emotions, so it is better to ask when is the right time to visit so that they feel comfortable and don't push yourself if your friend doesn't want to be seen at that time.
4. Make plans that are fun for the purpose of being entertaining
Ask your friend or relative what he would like to do and what he likes to do. Try to spend time with activities he likes, so that he forgets what he was feeling at the time.
5. Show your concern
You can show your concern by accompanying him to see the doctor, listening to all his complaints, or even making him healthy food to help with his treatment.
6. Make an appointment with your friends or other relatives to visit
This of course can be a fun thing, so that your friend who is undergoing treatment does not feel alone.
7. Helping in doing daily tasks
One of the easy but often overlooked things that can help cancer patients is by replacing or helping them in doing their daily work, for example replacing them for grocery shopping, or helping them with household chores. You can make a list of what your friends usually do that you can do.
8. Communication regularly
You can interact with your friend in various ways, whether it's in person, by phone, or by text. The most important thing is to maintain a relationship by staying in touch.
9. Don't be afraid or hesitate to show empathy and sympathy
You can say a few sentences like, "What can I do for you?" or, "Do you need friends to talk to?" or something like that. Don't say unnecessary things like, "I understand how you feel," or, "Don't worry." That of course won't help make it any better, as it just sounds like lip service.
