| Cancer has a huge impact on most people when | | | | understand the disease and they do not know |
| it is first diagnosed. The person with the disease | | | | what happens in the hospital when their loved one |
| goes through a wide range of emotions including | | | | goes for treatment. Ignorance is not always bliss |
| fear, anger, anxiety and sadness. But those | | | | and sometimes, depending on the family member, |
| emotions are not restricted to the sufferer. | | | | it can be a good idea to break down the mystery |
| Members of the ill person's family can also run the | | | | of cancer treatment. Sometimes knowing what |
| gamut of emotions including depression and | | | | happens and maybe even seeing what happens |
| despair. | | | | takes the fear out of fear. It's the fear of the |
| So the first step on the road to battling cancer is | | | | unknown which can be most frightening. |
| to accept that everyone involved is affected. | | | | Guilt is a common feeling amongst us. Why has |
| Some will suffer a greater impact than others but | | | | he or she got cancer and not me? This guilt |
| no-one will be exempt from the difficult times | | | | feeling can have a serious impact on a person and |
| ahead. | | | | helps make the point that everyone in the family |
| So how might the impact of your cancer be seen | | | | needs help at this time. Of course the cancer |
| in your family? Well some family members, | | | | patient needs great care and support but close |
| particularly children, may suffer fear and anxiety. | | | | family members can become stressed and ill from |
| Young children will see the change in the patient's | | | | the worry and guilt they are experiencing. |
| appearance and their dietary changes and the | | | | Then there are issues like embarrassment and |
| attention being given to the patient. This can be | | | | loneliness. Family members may think it is bad for |
| confusing and cause anxiety. | | | | someone to have cancer and it is something one |
| Talking about the subject may prove difficult. We | | | | is ashamed of. Sensible and careful explanations |
| all find some subjects hard to discuss. Cancer | | | | can remove that impact. Loneliness is something |
| could be such a subject and as family may not | | | | else. A family member can be surrounded by love |
| wish to even listen to the subject of treatment | | | | but still suffer from loneliness. If the one they |
| and the possible prognosis. This is understandable | | | | love may die, they cannot bear to be parted and |
| and it's important to know that there is no right | | | | the impact of possible loneliness can be tough o |
| or wrong when it comes to your reaction to | | | | bear. |
| cancer. Your feelings are just that and everyone | | | | Undoubtedly family members are affected but |
| will react in a different way. | | | | equally so when the family comes together as a |
| Friends and extended family members will also be | | | | unit, they can help the cancer patient and |
| affected by the news. But they can also be a | | | | themselves. It can be a wonderful time for |
| source of help and comfort to immediate family. | | | | bonding. |
| Fear is a common reaction. They do not | | | | |