Helping Those Dealing with Cancer

When I was in my 20s, I visited a lady 90 years old who had cancer. She loved it when I would bring my niece, who was 4 years old, with me to visit. It made her life more interesting than sitting at home alone and no one caring. She would buy special treats for my niece. That niece is now 31.

Later on in life, I had a friend who came down with cancer. I was teaching one of her kids in my class at church. She shut her kids out and didn't spend time doing things with them. I had to deal with the oldest wondering why her Mom did not find it worth fighting for them. She instead let the Dad steal her pain meds and do drugs and gave up on life because of him. Don't do this. The oldest boy turned to drugs upon her death. The next oldest boy also turned to drugs. Her oldest daughter was so discouraged she tried to kill herself. The youngest daughter did kill herself. These kids needed a Mom.

Then, later on in life, my father-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer. Once he asked me if he could question God. I said, "Sure - He already knows what you are feeling so you might as well talk it over with Him." This so helped him because it is hard dealing with a lot of aspects of cancer.

It is hard both on the patient and on the family. I read Amy Wallace's book, Healing Promises, which you'll find a review of on this Web site. It told a lot about how family is affected by cancer. Let your friends and your church be there for you.

I have not walked this battle myself but right now I'm facing some tough decisions. I hope the mass in my right breast is still benign like it was in October. I try my best not to focus on the stressful mammogram. But there are days when one has a meltdown. That is when one needs a friend to say, "It's okay - I'll hold you up when you don't feel like it yourself."

So if you need a person to listen, I am here for you.