What type of support do you need during cancer treatment?

Cancer demands a lot from both the person diagnosed as well as caregivers. There are appointments, follow-up appointments, consultations with multiple healthcare providers, test results that need to be interpreted, and treatment decisions that need to be made.

And all this while dealing with the emotional distress that often accompanies a diagnosis of a serious medical condition, as well as the legitimate concerns about how cancer will affect relationships, finances, and quality of life.

While everyone’s experience is somewhat unique, everyone can benefit from having a strong social support network.

What is a social support network?

Cancer adds many new responsibilities to day-to-day life, and it takes time away from all the responsibilities that were already in place. A social support network is a network of people who can help you and your family in big and small ways during this time.

This can include things like meals, household chores, errands, childcare, pet care, work, and anything else that demands more time and energy than you have at the moment. This type of support is often referred to as “practical support” or “practical help.”

Support can also mean emotional support. Emotional support can be having someone to talk to during a difficult day or someone to spend time with when you need a break from thinking about cancer. Emotional support is important to both people with cancer and caregivers.

Practical support and emotional support can also overlap. For example, having a friend or loved one accompany you to a healthcare appointment, which helps with both transportation but also provides comfort and encouragement.

What type of support do you need?

Again, cancer is a different experience for everyone, and different people will need different types of support. The type of support you or your loved one needs will also vary at different times during treatment. In many cases, treating cancer is a multi-step process that involves a combination of therapies.

Your healthcare team is your best source of information. Talk about the treatment timeline and what to expect during each part of the process. Ask about what limitations will be required, how much time you will need away from work, how a person can expect to feel during each part of treatment, and the type of help a person usually needs when undergoing a similar treatment schedule.

While you can’t plan for everything, plan ahead as much as possible. Think about the types of support you need right now and what you will need in the future. Start making a list of the things you will need help with and the people who would be a good match for providing that type of help.

Talk to your healthcare team about any gaps in support and care, and what resources are available to help you. Local resources can include practical help like transportation to appointments and meal deliveries, as well as emotional support, such as support groups or counseling.

An oncology social worker is a valuable member of a healthcare team, and worth talking to even if you feel you have everything under control. Oncology social workers are another example of how the people who provide practical help can also provide emotional support. An oncology social worker can help you find local resources and coordinate care as well as provide counseling.

Also spend time thinking about the types of support that you do not need. People may reach out with ideas for help, but those may not always align with what you want and what you need.