10 Tips for Coping With Cancer During the Holidays

• Keep it simple. If you’re in the middle of cancer treatment, holiday tasks can seem overwhelming. Instead of cooking an elaborate meal, have your guests bring a dish, order food out, or ask someone else to cook. If you don’t have energy to go shopping, buy gifts online, order from catalogs, or get gift cards.
• Accept help. Although you may have been the one to handle holiday preparations in the past, these responsibilities can become overwhelming when you have cancer. Let your friends and family help you, and be specific about what they can do, such as cleaning or helping with holiday decorations.
• Anticipate reactions from others. You may be dealing with side effects from treatment, such as hair loss, weight loss, or other changes to your appearance. If you’re worried about how others will react to seeing you, think about how you’ll respond ahead of time, or contact them in advance to talk about it.
• Eat wisely. Although you may not have much of an appetite, good nutrition can give you more energy and improve your mood during the holidays. Instead of one large meal, try to eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day and stay hydrated. Avoid too much sugar, alcohol or caffeine.
• Know your limits. You aren’t obligated to participate in every holiday activity. You may decide to decline some activities so you have energy to enjoy ones that are most important to you. Pace yourself, get plenty of rest, and take time for yourself if you need it. Your loved ones will understand.
• Be smart about travel. If you’re visiting relatives or friends for the holidays, plan ahead to make traveling easier and more comfortable. Consider staying at a hotel so you have more time to relax. If you’re traveling by plane, make any special arrangements ahead of time. Also, don’t forget your medications.
• Share your feelings. Sharing your feelings with others can help reduce stress during the holidays. Your loved ones may not know how to approach you or what to say, so communicate with them. If you don’t want to talk about cancer, let them know. If you feel upset and want to talk about it, that’s okay too.
• Nurture your spirituality. Participation in spiritual and/or religious activities, particularly during this time of year, can be a source of peace, comfort and hope for many. You may decide to attend religious services, read prayers, scriptures or inspirational stories, meditate, or do a good deed for someone else.
• Set goals for the New Year. Your dreams and hopes for the future may be different now, as things that seemed important before cancer give way to new priorities. You can gain perspective and a sense of control by thinking about your goals for the year ahead and the things that matter most to you.
• Discover what the holidays mean to you. Try not to dwell on what may be missing or is different about this year's holiday season. Instead, focus on what the holidays truly mean to you, such as spending time with loved ones or being thankful. This may help you appreciate life, love and family in new ways.

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER REGARDING YOUR CANCER CARE.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), a national network of fully-accredited cancer hospitals, offers some of the most advanced treatments and technologies for fighting cancer.

CTCA doctors have expertise in treating most types of cancer, including complex and advanced cases. They work as a team, alongside cancer experts from multiple disciplines, to keep patients strong in body, mind and spirit.

CTCA care team members listen to patients and provide clear, well-defined choices. They work together to develop a comprehensive treatment plan based on each patient’s unique diagnosis and needs.

Using innovative technologies and tools to fight cancer, our cancer experts provide a powerful combination of treatments. While our oncologists help patients fight cancer, other clinicians provide supportive therapies to help patients tolerate treatment, manage side effects, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Visit the full website to learn more.

I hope this information has helped you in some way. I will check in with you again next month.