3 Simple Ways To Show Love In Action For Someone With Cancer
When someone you love has cancer, it is easy to get sad and feel helpless because you cannot control the cancer. It is a fight they ultimately have to face and battle themselves. However, a cancer patient does not have to fight it alone, and you have the power to make this difficult journey a lot easier on them. Supporting a loved one with cancer doesn't mean that you must rearrange your life or give up your savings. Try these simple but effective ways of showing how much you care about a loved one who is battling cancer.
Keep Showing Up
When someone is facing cancer, they quickly learn that it makes others extremely uncomfortable. Cancer is nearly everyone's worst nightmare, and looking at someone whose body is being ravaged by cancer can be difficult and make people avoid them. Their best friend may disappear. It happens all too often during cancer battles. Keep showing up. Keep calling. Someone who is receiving cancer treatment services may not feel like reaching out, but they probably still really want to hear from you.
Make Simple Plans
Someone who is battling cancer is not going to feel like playing hostess to parties or evenings on the town. You can still get together, though. Make suggestions, such as that you would like to accompany them to a treatment on your day off or offer to drive them to a treatment when it works around your schedule. Showing up and treating them like the same person you have always been happy to see will help them maintain a sense of normalcy.
Help Them Feel Safe Opening Up
Many people ask, "How are you?" Few people really want to hear the nitty gritty reality of how a cancer patient may be feeling. Be the exception to that. Ask how your loved one is, and you may even ask about what they think of the cancer treatment services they are receiving. When you ask follow-up questions and show your sincere interest in their well-being, they will eventually feel comfortable that you really do want to know how they are beyond the typical polite conversation niceties.
Finally, keep in mind that you may be surprised by many things that happen as your friend battles cancer. What they end up needing may surprise you sometimes, but it is always best to let the person who is facing the disease dictate how they handle the battle. Continuing to show your love and support through the many decisions they have to make will ultimately provide them with as much comfort as possible, and it is likely to be something they appreciate and treasure.