How Cancer Can Affect Your Family Life

Learn How The Changes In Life Routines Introduced  By Cancer Diagnosis Can Cause Stress On Family Life

A diagnosis of cancer affects very seriously and directly not just the patient but also their family, friends, and community of the individual. Cancer and the treatments utilized to treat it can include a complicated model of lifestyle changes and emotional replies, which can be difficult for family members to handle.

Family Members Are Often Stressed Equally As Patients

The diagnosis of cancer is a family happening that changes the lives of all its members, causing an immense amount of strain and various stressful circumstances. The daily routine, common activities, and sharing of duties all have to change. Family members attend the phases of the disease, very often experiencing similar or greater distress than the patient. They use different coping methods that aim at helping both the sick relative and themselves. Dr. Shyamali Singhal has noticed, in her experience working with cancer patients for years, that these methods, together with emotional responses, change over time according to the phase of the disease.

Changing The Routines

When a cancer patient receives the cancer diagnosis, daily habits may change for everyone around them. Plans may be focused on treatment. Someone in their family may need to take time off from work to drive the patient to treatments. Or, perhaps they need help to handle bills or preparing meals. Patients may need help with chores and errands. A family member’s severe illness stretches the emotional resources of the rest of the immediate and extended family. Both the person with cancer and loved ones may need to protect one another from their own emotions. But the more honestly they can discuss difficult problems, the larger is the range for family members to encourage one another. Family members may adapt to work things out among themselves or they may choose for family therapy or some other third party advice.

Cancer is also an extraordinary circumstance for a cancer patient’s loved ones. Family members and friends find that they have to handle their relationship with cancer and life’s most significant questions. It is often the spouse or partner of a patient with cancer that is affected most significantly by all the family members. Both the patient and their spouse may experience strong emotions about the condition, such as sadness, anxiety, or anger, which can affect the relationship. Each couple will respond in a unique way. Some people may find that the difficulties associated with cancer and cancer treatments increase the bond and depth of their relationship, but many couples state increased pressure on relationships and stresses.

The Partner Is The First One To Help And Share The Distress 

In most situations, it is the partner who gives the most direct care to a patient with cancer and is beside them for day-to-day support. They may help with physical activities during the day, or to provide emotional support for the patient. This may also shift the roles that each partner plays in the relationship if there is a need for adjustments to be made to accommodate the health of the cancer patient. This change in expectations and responsibilities can be difficult for both the patient and the partner, who may report feeling, guilt, or overwhelmed.

Cancer puts the family at risk since it imposes an alternation in the relations among family members. It affects the couple's relationship, their sex life, and it can also be a cause of major trauma among their children and adolescents. The diagnosis of cancer also brings individual risks for family members in terms of psychological and physical health impairment.

Added Responsibilities Of Family Caregivers

Family caregivers often feel overwhelmed with the added responsibilities and tasks they have to pick up. They find it more taxing to care full-time for the home and provide loving comfort for the patient. The family's problems and the way family members see the disease may be also a consequence of the family system they are living in.

Cancer and its treatment are naturally tough for everyone, notably the people who take care of cancer patients. Sometimes loved ones become run down and get sick themselves from all the pressure they’re experiencing. Because of this, they need to have balance in their life to take care of personal tasks and chores, sleep, be with friends, or have hobbies. Cancer patients’ caregivers will also need time to sort through their feelings about cancer. Let them know that you want them to have a break and that it's fine for other people to take care of you for some time.

Having a parent that is moved by cancer occurrence can be especially challenging for children, who may not realize everything that is going on and the meanings of a state of illness such as cancer. It is imperative to interact honestly with children so that they feel involved and understand the basics of what is occurring.

Dealing With Cancer In Children Lives

There may be meaningful changes in the course of children’s lives as a consequence of cancer. Younger children oftentimes become over-attached or impulsive, whereas adolescents may feel angry or become disconnected from social activities. Additionally, there may be some reversal of role as children help in caring for their parent with cancer, which can be difficult for both.

You probably can, and want to keep doing things on your own. It's important to let people know that you can still do some things for yourself. Dr. Singhal recommends to, as much as you're able, keep up with your normal routine by making decisions, managing your home, running errands, and taking part in things you enjoy.

Some people who have cancer find that their circle of friends shifts through the illness. This may be for a mixture of reasons. Some friends may stop being in touch because they don’t know what they should say to someone with cancer and are incapable to face them. It can happen that the person who is ill withdraws socially. Then again, it may be due to fear but also physical circumstances, if the illness and its treatment meddle with patients’ regular life. On the other hand, having a critical illness can alter your preferences and view of life, and so cancer patient’s bonds with friends can weaken and alter.