Supporting Someone with Cancer
- Beloved newscaster Bob Nunnally of Ohio's NBC4 just announced he is battling cancer for a third time. And, thankfully, his news family far and wide has come to support him including NBC’s TODAY show anchor Al Roker.
- Supporting a friend or loved one with cancer can be hard, but it’s important to make an effort. People like Nunnally know, firsthand, how much support can mean when you’re faced with a cancer battle.
- SurvivorNet suggests offering concrete ways to show the cancer warrior you care, allowing them to talk through their negative emotions with you, cooking them a healthy meal that they'll enjoy, doing activities with them that will lift their spirits and working to better understand their diagnosis if you're taking on more of a full-time caregiver role.
Nunnally has been working with Ohio-based NBC4 for nearly 25 years. It's no secret that he loves what he does, but, unfortunately, he's had to take a break from his news family to focus on healing as he heads into his third battle with cancer.
Read MoreTODAY show anchor and prostate cancer survivor Al Roker took the time to sends his best wishes to Nunnally.
"We want to take a moment to send our thoughts and prayers to an extended member of our NBC family," Roker said. "Bob Nunnally, a beloved meteorologist at our Columbus, Ohio, affiliate, WCMH, for nearly 25 years is taking time away from his weekday morning duties to battle cancer.
"He's being showered with love all around Columbus, including these electronic billboards displaying the message, 'We're with you, Bob! Get well soon!' And we are with you as well. Sending thoughts and prayers and a speedy recovery back to your NBC4 family. So, take care."
Nunnally hasn't announced what type of cancer he's facing, but he's already battled the disease twice. The first time was in his 20s, and that's when he said the word 'cancer' "felt like a death warrant" because he had never known anyone who survived. But this time around, things are different.
"It's like every bit of positive news that the doctors give me I grasp onto it, and I say, 'We're gonna fight you. We're gonna fight you as much as possible, as hard as possible, and we're gonna win," he said.
Now, that doesn't mean receiving this diagnosis was completely different. He admits he heard the word 'cancer' and immediately blocked everything else out the first time his doctor explained things. But once the word settled in, he was able to focus on the positive: they found his cancer early, it has not metastasized and the prognosis is good.
"My doctors say it looks good for me," he said. "You listen closely to everything they say and you go, 'Okay we can beat this, I can beat this, the doctors can beat this."
He's already started chemotherapy, and the hope is that the chemo will shrink his cancer enough for it to be surgically removed. He knows this treatment will take a toll on his body especially since he's already had other procedures for his health recently and he's been feeling isolated since he's trying to protect his immune system as he heads into treatment. But Nunnally for all the support he’s received from his news family.
"I love hearing from people things have been coming in kind of piecemeal at this point but you can let me know through the station's website if you have any statements of support," Nunnally said. "It gives me strength and makes me feel better."
Five Ways You Can Support Someone with Cancer
If you’re trying to support a friend or loved one with cancer, it’s important to know where to start. No matter what role you play, it can be very tough to know what to do when someone you care about is diagnosed with the disease. Below are some ways to offer support.
- Avoid asking, try doing. Although it's understandable to not know how to best support your loved one during their cancer journey, it can be equally as hard for them to voice exactly what they need or want from you. Instead of always asking, "How can I help you?" maybe try saying something more concrete like, "Hey, can I come over at 8? I'll bring Monopoly." If you offer specific ways to support rather than ask for things they need, it's likely to come across as more genuine and feel easier for them to accept the support or help.
- Stay in touch, but "don't say stupid things." You might never be able to truly understand the battle your loved one is facing, but being a person they feel comfortable talking through some of their negative emotions with can make a big difference. That being said, breast cancer survivor Catherine Gigante-Brown says there are some topics you might want to avoid. "Don't burden us with stories about your Great Aunt Harriet who had breast cancer," she previously told SurvivorNet. "And then you say, 'Oh how's she doing?' And then they'll say, 'Oh, she died.' We don't need to hear the horror stories."
How to Talk to a Friend With Cancer: Don't Say Stupid Stuff
- Offer to cook them a meal. Consider inviting them over for dinner, dropping off a special dish, or, if that's not possible, sending a gift basket with some pick-me-up goodies. If you're able to cook for them, perhaps try to make a healthy meal that will bring them joy. Remember that there's no specialized diet that has been found to fight cancer, but it's always a good idea to maintain a moderate diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as fats and proteins. No matter what, it's the simple gesture of providing a meal that will make them feel loved and supported.
- Try helping them find joy. There's no one right way to do it, but try to think of activities you can do with your loved one that will lift them up. It could be something as simple as watching a funny tv series together, having a wine and paint night, taking a drive to a beautiful place or starting a book club with them. We've seen in previous studies that patients with better emotional health have a better quality of life when going through treatment and actually tend to live longer than those with worse emotional well-being. Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology, says "better quality of life is associated with better survival, better outcomes… having a good social network can be very helpful."
Dr. Dana Chase explains how emotional health is key during a cancer journey
- Be involved. If you've taken on more of a full-time caregiving role, work to understand your loved one's diagnosis and help them follow the instructions from the cancer-care team. "I encourage caregivers to come in to visits with my patients, because in that way, the caregiver is also listening to the recommendations what should be done in between these visits, any changes in treatment plans, any toxicities [side effects] that we need to look out for, changes in dietary habits, exercise, etc.," Dr. Jayanthi Lea, a gynecologic oncologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
How to Be a Better Caregiver for Your Loved One
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