When someone special in your life is diagnosed with cancer, it can be overwhelming for you to hear about. You need a moment to process everything and just come up for air after feeling as though you have been punched in the stomach. Now consider how the actual cancer patient is feeling. 

Go ahead and process your feelings. It will not happen all at once, and you certainly are entitled to a wide range of emotions. But then you need to move forward. You do not need to put your thoughts away, you simply need to reframe your focus on the person with the diagnosis. With that in mind, here are some ways you can help your special person through the cancer diagnosis and treatment process.

Go to the Doctor With Them

Spending time in any clinical setting, especially in the beginning stages of their cancer diagnosis, will be invaluable. When someone hears that they have cancer, it is quite plausible that they may tune out every word after that significant one. 

With that in mind, you can be there to gather information, ask questions, and take note of what has been said throughout the appointment. This includes asking very necessary questions about what their prognosis is and diagnosis-specific questions like what is their mesothelioma survival rate? And, what are the next steps to take?

Put Together A Clinical Support Team

If you feel that the oncologist is well-qualified, that is great. However, there should be more medical personnel on board to provide their respective expertise. On the other hand, if you are less than satisfied with the care your loved one is receiving, it is perfectly acceptable to switch doctors or request a second opinion. The more people involved in working for a healthy patient, the better.

Watch this video for information on how to find the best medical team for your cancer journey, regardless of the type.

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Offer a Distraction

Distractions come in many forms. One distraction may be a friendly Wordle game. Another could be watching the latest streaming sensation together after chemotherapy. The main focus of any diversion is to move the attention away from the cancer diagnosis and put it onto the normalcy of daily living and interactions. Talking about the news, what the children are busy with, or the latest sports scores are all acceptable. Someone who has cancer still wants to know about the world around them and be present in it.

A wonderful distraction you can provide is a vacation. Due to the specific nature and needs of somebody experiencing cancer, you may wonder how best to go about finding a suitable vacation location. You do not have to do this yourself. Contact an organization that has been formed to meet the unique needs of those going through cancer as well as their families. Depending on the organization, they may offer assistance with expenses, and coordinate activities and respite times.

Remember that cancer diagnoses are different for everyone and what they encounter and experience can be just as varied. People with cancer want to hear more than apologies, they want you to show up for them. And, remember to take care of yourself, too.