Coping During Cancer
- Kelly Osbourne, 36, says her addiction to prescription pills got out of control after her mom, Sharon Osbourne, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2002.
- Watching a loved one battle cancer can be emotionally devastating, but there are ways to cope without putting your own health in jeopardy.
- Camila Legaspi, who watched her mother battle breast cancer, tells SurvivorNet that therapy was a tremendous help.
Osbourne’s colon cancer was discovered after her husband, Ozzy, begged her to visit a doctor. She hadn’t had a routine check-up for three years, and immediately had surgery for treatment. However, she was told that the cancer had already spread, and she went through chemotherapy. The chemo really put Osbourne in a dark mental space. It turns out, Osbourne’s cancer battle greatly impacted one of her biggest cheerleaders her daughter Kelly.
Read MoreCoping When a Parent Has Cancer
Similar to a patient, family members and friends can also experience a roller coaster of emotions while watching someone they love battle cancer. It’s critical that a support system are able to stay upbeat and positive, but that means they need to find ways to cope and ease any anxiety they may be feeling.
Related: Patrick Dempsey's Advice to Cancer Caregivers: Take Care of Yourself, Too
Here are a few tips:
- Consider therapy; talking to someone privately can help with expressing all emotions you’re feeling.
- Connect with support groups; being able to talk to others who are going through a similar experience can be a valuable resource.
- Make a list of activities you enjoy doing; taking some time for yourself can be a distraction for negative feelings you may be experiencing.
- Explore creative outlets; artistic hobbies such as painting and writing can be a great way to express yourself and de-stress.
- Be as open as you can; if you’re struggling, let your loved ones know and they can help.
Camila Legaspi, who watched her mother battle breast cancer, says therapy ‘saved her life’
Healing Emotionally After Cancer
Coping during cancer treatment is critical, but it’s also equally important to find ways to deal with life after cancer. For some, you may feel like a different person since you took on such a huge challenge but remember that you are still you, just a stronger version of yourself.
Colon cancer survivor Evelyn Reyes-Beato knows first-hand how important emotional wellbeing is after being declared in remission. Just because you’ve beaten disease doesn’t mean you can forget how much it affected a large part of your life, and Evelyn says being open about your emotions is very important in making sure you can move forward.
“People that are strong cry. It’s the weak ones that try to hold it in,” Evelyn tells SurvivorNet. “You have to let it out. Your mental and your emotional help your physical get in line. But if you keep all of the emotions in, the way I see it is that stuff is going to eat you up inside, and it’s not going to leave you heal. So you got to let it out when it’s going to come out, and don’t worry if you think that other people are seeing you as weak. You’re not.”
Colon cancer survivor Evelyn Reyes-Beato says being open is key after cancer
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.