Personal Relationships
Supporting Your Partner Through Cancer
Many couples today face the challenge of battling cancer together. “Cancer not only affects those diagnosed, but also the partners who love and care for them,” says Robert Miller, MD, radiation oncologist at Wellspring Oncology in Pinellas Park, FL. “Thousands of people are diagnosed with cancer every day, and thousands more step into a new supportive role.”
Safeguard Your Family Tree by Creating a Family Medical History
by Catherine Credeur, GSW, OSW-C
Cancer survivors often wonder whether their family members will also experience cancer. I have asked this question myself as a member of a family that has a long cancer history. I also hear this concern from survivors in my role as an oncology social worker. The good news is there are things you can do as a survivor to protect your family.
We Really Need to Talk
by Paul J. Donoghue, PhD, and Mary E. Siegel, PhD
Whether you have cancer or love someone who does, you need to talk. You have to voice your feelings of fear, discouragement, and anger, as well as feelings of relief, appreciation, and concern. When you don’t allow yourself to let out what roils inside your heart and in your brain, you isolate yourself, and you permit feelings and thoughts to overwhelm and depress you.
A Little Help from Your Friends
by Pat Godfrey McRee
Strong, invincible women get through breast cancer with a little help from their strong, invincible friends. The friends who show up to do something, even when the only time they hear your voice for weeks is on that answering machine!
Camp Kesem
by Camp Kesem staff
On the surface, Camp Kesem looks like any overnight summer camp – days filled with skits, songs, sports, and tie-dying t-shirts. But the camp, a national nonprofit organization that provides free, week-long overnight camps for children who have a parent who’s been diagnosed with cancer, is anything but typical.
What You Can Do for a Friend with Cancer
by Denise Hazen
Finding out that a friend or loved one has been diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming. For most of us, our first response is to make a chicken casserole or to offer, “Call me if you need anything.” These are both kind gestures, but what your loved one really needs is for you to take action.
Let’s Talk About Sex
by Melissa Donahue, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, CST
Sex is normal human behavior; however, it can be an intimidating topic to discuss with your doctor. It is important to remember that we are all sexual beings whether we are with a partner or alone.
Five Things You Should Be Sure to Tell Your Kids about Cancer (So It’s Less Scary)
by Beverlye Hyman Fead
Giving your children clear, honest information from the start will ease some of their anxieties and help them feel less afraid. Here are five important things to tell the children in your life about your cancer.
