How to Build a Support System When You Start Cancer Treatment

March 8th, 2022 | Cancer, Nausea

Cancer is Rough, Friends Can Get You Through

Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can take a toll on your body. Not only are they physically draining, but these treatments can leave you needing assistance with everyday tasks. Building a support system to help you through treatment will ensure that your recovery experience is as positive as possible. Here is everything you need to think about when planning your support system for cancer treatment.

Transportation

The most time-consuming aspect of your support system is transportation. Most experts agree that after cancer treatment it is not safe for the individual to drive themselves home. Arranging transportation with a friend or loved one for each of your treatments will give you peace of mind that you will get home safely. Try to communicate with a few people to set up a rotational transportation plan. This will ensure that you always have a safe ride without putting too much responsibility on one individual. When it comes to building a support system, you want to do your best to make sure that your loved ones are not getting burnt out from helping you.

Food and Drink

Cancer treatments can leave you nauseous, and you may even vomit frequently. You will need a variety of different snacks and fluids to help you get your energy back. Have loved ones bring you food and drinks on a regular schedule, so you can ensure you have what you require when you need it. After treatment, it can be hard to go to the store and run regular errands. Having friends and loved ones drop things off can be helpful because you will never have to worry about having necessary fluids and bland foods. Don’t forget you can also help relieve your nausea with Queasy Drops and Queasy Bands.

Check-Ins

Planning check-ins with your support system will ensure that you always feel safe during the recovery process. You never can predict exactly how treatment will have you feeling. Regular check-ins can make sure that you are doing alright, even f you do not have the energy to reach out for assistance. Schedule both in-person and by-phone check-ins so that you can receive support even when someone is unable to visit you. Check-ins are a great way to make sure that you have everything you need during your recovery. Sometimes it is just nice knowing that someone is coming to check in on you and spend a bit of time with you as you are feeling down.

When building a support system, it is important to ensure that your friends and family don’t feel too overwhelmed. Spreading out the responsibility will make your friends feel like they are helping you recover, while not feeling that their time is completely spent. However, you should never feel bad about asking for support. As you deal with this difficult time, you mustn’t try and get through it alone. Having a support system is a sign of strength and preparedness, not an admittance of weakness. Recovering can be a difficult process, you must find support to ease your journey.