Did cancer change your relationships with the people closest to you?
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Some relationships become stronger from the shared experience of cancer. But others may become strained because of the challenges of cancer. People may have to rebuild the connection that they once had with each other.
These ideas may help with relationships issues after cancer:
- Know that cancer can change relationships. How your relationship will cope with the changes depends much on what kind of relationship you had before cancer.
- Give yourself and the people close to you time to sort through thoughts and feelings.
- Learn how to share your feelings with one another. Communication is important. Be honest and open about how you’re feeling.
- Let others know when you feel able to get back to a chore or task that you did before you had cancer, or if you feel you aren’t ready for it just yet.
- Tell people if you still need help or support, and what type of help you need.
- Understand that at first some chores or tasks may not be done as well as they had been done before.
- Connect with other cancer survivors, to give you a place to express your feelings outside of the relationship. Try an online forum or a support group. Support is available for both cancer survivors and their loved ones.
If a relationship is strained, individual, couples or family counselling may help. Sadly, some relationships that weren’t working very well before cancer may not last under the stress of the difficult times during treatment and recovery.
Read more: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-journey/life-after-cancer/relationships-after-cancer/?region=on#ixzz5JTDSFmBo