Ask CancerCare

People view the holidays as a time to celebrate and connect with family and friends. However, the season can be stressful if you are living with cancer and trying to manage treatment side effects such as fatigue, weight loss or gain, nausea or pain.

Fortunately, doctors have many ways to reduce and even prevent side effects. At CancerCare, we often use the word “coping” to describe how people deal with cancer. People sometimes mistakenly think that coping means just living with a problem, whether you like it or not. But coping actually means managing a problem and finding a new way to take control of it.

You can maximize your enjoyment of the holidays by letting your health care team know now about your holiday plans and ask for their help in taking control of treatment side effects. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your concerns and ask for guidance regarding holiday meals, travel, and conserving your energy, as well as rescheduling your treatments, if possible, so that any resulting side effects will not occur on during the holidays.

CancerCare offers publications offering additional information so that you can better manage your treatment side effects and enjoy the holiday season:

• Coping with Cancer During the Holidays
• Understanding and Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
• Coping with Cancer: Tools to Help You Live

You can find additional information through the National Cancer Institute.

CancerCare’s social workers are here to help you with emotional support and practical help. Call 800-813-HOPE (4673) or email info@cancercare.org.