Supporting a loved one with Lymphoma
Finding out that a loved one has any kind of chronic disease can be devastating and this is no different when the diagnosis is lymphoma. Lymphoma is a form of cancer that affects the lymphocyte cells of the immune system and as such it can cause a lot of pain and suffering for the patient. This then only gets worse when the diagnosis is made because the patient knows they have to go through multiple courses of intensive treatment just to stay alive. Understandably this will affect both the patient and their immediate family in both emotional and physical terms and it is at this point that the patient will need all the support they can get.
There may be a short interval between the initial diagnosis and the start of treatment because a number of tests have to be carried out to determine the exact type of lymphoma, how fast it is growing and what stage it has reached. During this time the patient may become withdrawn, irritable and even angry as they start to contemplate their future and the reality of the diagnosis sinks in. Family support is crucial at this time because many lymphoma patients take the time to research their condition and they almost always look at the worst possible outcome. The family initially has to reassure the patient and comfort them when they are having bad moments. They need to have faith in their oncologists and in themselves so that they have the best chance of beating their cancer as possible.
When treatment does finally begin most patients need some form of physical support in addition to emotional and mental support, although most of them won't admit to it. Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy take a lot out of a person and the patient will often feel tired and fatigued from the outset. Treatment also tires the family as they are constantly traveling to and from the hospital to visit their loved ones. It is important however that they are always positive and upbeat whenever they visit as it will be during this period that the patient will be at their lowest. Depending on what type of lymphoma is present and how far it has spread, if indeed it has spread, the patient may need multiple courses of treatment. If they suffer from side effects and see little or no improvement in their condition despite intensive therapy they might become depressed to the point that they want to give up. In this case the family has to show the patient exactly what they will be missing out on if they decide to give up. Lau ghing, joking around and gossiping may seem like a strange thing to do in the circumstances however studies have shown that many patients show increased positivism when their family does the same thing.
Families can often get support from close friends and special support groups and so even if they are stressed tired and worried, they needn't show these feeling to the patient. It is vital that the patient sees happy smiling faces and positive attitudes so that they always have something to live for.