Living with Cancer

In these strange and isolating times it can feel hard to know how to support friends or family who are living with Cancer or caring for someone with cancer. It is made especially difficult with shielding and for many people living with cancer keeping safe in their own homes, the isolation can become overwhelming when added to the natural anxieties of living with cancer. This is likely to be true for both the person with cancer and the person caring for them.

What can you do to support someone living with cancer in these difficult times?

Here are some suggestions:

Pick up the phone and call them. See how they are doing and ask them what it is you can do for them. Many people will just want to have a chat and feel as normal as they can and a chat with a friend can be an incredible tonic.
Include them in group gatherings via Zoom or what ever media you can work with
If you live close to them and it is safe, meet safely outside
Go for a walk with them – keeping safe distance at all times.
Help by going to the shops for them

It really can be hard for us all during isolation but for those who are facing life limiting cancer it can seem devastating to spend what precious time they have isolated from those they love so ask them what you can do to be with them safely.

Here is another article pre-lockdown, which has some excellent suggestions as well: https://www.cancersupportuk.org/about-us/news/detail/2020/02/03/five-ways-to-support-someone-living-with-cancer

Written by Caroline at Caroline Ellison Counselling – these are my opinions. Carpe Diem.

Face-to-Face and Online Counselling

I offer Individual Counselling and Couples Therapy in-person and online. I will support you with kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding. Working collaboratively, I will provide a safe, confidential space for you to express and process your emotions. I work with adults and carers.

I have experience and work with a wide range of issues such as: anxiety, stress, overwhelm, bereavement, grief and loss, depression and low mood, family and relationship difficulties, building confidence and self-esteem, trauma, long term and life limiting illness, counselling for carers.

I have a special interest in counselling for carers, patients and family members of long term and life limiting illness such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Cancer.