Being told you have cancer is going to be an upsetting experience, and you’ll have all kinds of feelings about the news and what to do next. You’ll be overwhelmed, scared, and unsure of what to do, and you’ll need to have people around you who can help you and be there for you.
What if you are one of those people, however? What if you’re not the one who’s been diagnosed with cancer, and you’re one of the people the sick person needs to rely on? What if you’re their partner? If that’s the case, it’s worth working out how you can support your partner after they receive a cancer diagnosis so you can be as caring as possible. Read on for some ideas about how to do it.
Listen
There’s a lot to think about when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and a lot to process. That’s why, as a cancer patient’s partner, one of the best things you can do is to listen to them – they might just want to talk through their feelings, which could range from shock to disbelief to anger and so much more.
In other words, you don’t have to do anything except be there for them and be the person they know they can come to when they need to rant, yell, and let out their emotions. If you can be a safe space for them to go, they’ll be able to process everything much more easily, and it could be the best thing for them.
Educate Yourself
If you’re going to be as supportive as possible for your partner, you’ll need to educate yourself about all the various elements of cancer, treatment, and the specific illness your partner has – remember, there are many different kinds of cancer and they can range from mild to severe, so understanding the differences and knowing what to expect from leukemia symptoms compared to symptoms of other forms of cancer is vital.
Not only will you know more about how your partner is feeling (as much as you possibly can, anyway), but you’ll also know what to expect in the future as the disease progresses, and you’ll get a better idea of the types of treatment that might be on offer. On top of that, when you learn as much as you can about your partner’s illness, they’ll know you care, making them feel better at the same time.
Provide Practical Support
Although cancer treatment is a medical marvel and is certainly something any cancer patient will be offered, it can take a toll on the body and mind – it’s unpleasant, to say the least. Anyone who undergoes radiotherapy or chemotherapy will feel extremely unwell afterward, even if it is helping to cure the disease.
Because of that, it’s vital that you provide practical support as well as being there emotionally for your partner. They might find it hard to do everyday tasks while they’re going through treatment, so being there to help them, whether it’s cooking nutritious food, running errands, helping with housework, or anything else, can be wonderful. They can stop worrying about getting things done and focus on their health instead, and you can keep yourself busy with chores, which will help you keep your mind off your worries about them.
