When someone in your family has cancer, things can change for everyone. These changes can be large or small. What it is like to have a parent or a brother or sister with cancer depends on a lot of things such as:
- Who in your family has cancer.
- What kind of cancer the person has and how it's treated.
- How old you are.
- If you have other people in your family or close friends nearby who can help.
- Whether you live with two parents or with one.
- If you have brothers and sisters at home and how old they are.
- How far the person with cancer goes for treatment-across town, can visit or call them.
- How long the person has to stay in the hospital.
- How well or sick the person with cancer feels.
- Whether you can get the answers to your questions about cancer.
- How easy it is for your family or friends to talk with you about cancer.
- How easy it is for you to talk about cancer.
- Whether your friends know what is happening to your family.
- How your friends treat you.
Any of these can make a difference, and only you know how cancer has changed your life. One piece of information can't answer all your questions
Any illness changes family life for a while. A parent or a brother or sister who is home sick with the flu can't spend as much time with the family as usual. The sick person may get special attention, and you may need to help around the house. But most times, the person is not sick for very long, and family life soon goes back to normal.
But when someone has cancer, it is different. He or she needs special medical treatment and may go to the hospital or clinic a lot. People in the family may worry. They worry for the person who has cancer and for themselves. Cancer is a serious illness, and it can be scary if you don't know for sure if the person will get well or not.
Please refer to information:
Support Services - Services to Think About
Home, Health and Personal Support In Chatham-Kent
The Healing Journey Program
Cancer Coach