Two Things To Know In The Fight Against Breast Cancer
October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For many women and some men, breast cancer is a health journey like none other. It is one that my mother is on right now. I never would have fathomed that my shero would have to travel the road frequented by so many in the fight against breast cancer. As my mother’s health advocate and part of her support system, this has been a journey of ups and downs. In this blog, I will share 2 things to know in aiding your loved one in the fight against breast cancer.
Recognize The Emotional Rollercoaster
Once my mother was officially diagnosed with breast cancer, an array of emotions washed over her, as well as me. One thing I had to realize is my mother needed emotional support. I quickly realized that, I too, needed to manage my emotions. Meaning, the reality of mortality sinks in. Fighting breast cancer and the uncertainty of what lies ahead takes a tremendous amount of faith and fortitude. This fight requires being in close proximity to and multiple conversations with the medical team and family members. Emotions vacillate between gratitude of early detection and fighting back the fear of the physical impacts of treatment. While you fight this fight against breast cancer, don’t ignore the emotions. Find a balance to navigate the array of emotions. Talking about your feelings can help formulate questions to ask the medical team, and can lead to resource that can help provide emotional support.
Know How To Communicate and Connect
When it comes to the fight against breast cancer, the journey can be long and tedious. Another thing to consider is the multiple doctor’s appointments and medical support that is required. Although this is not a surprise, what can be underestimated is the lack of continuity in the communication of the care team. This can occur when there are multiple medical specialists involved, especially if your loved one has other pre-existing medical conditions. In my mother’s case, she has two other medical conditions and she is a senior. Therefore, I had to not only become her Medical Power of Attorney, but I had to research and understand the numerous medical terms, understand the course of treatment, medications, and monitor her side effects. Most importantly, I had to make sure all her doctors where looped in and made aware of the treatments that each of them provided. This has its challenges. Communication is key and I had to be the driver of the continuity of care in this fight. Unclear lines of communication should not be a barrier in this fight against this disease. Something as simple as avoiding overlapping medical appointments is crucial. In my mother’s case, she lives in a rural community where the driving distance to her doctors’ offices is an additional factor. Lastly, make sure you communicate with family and others who are part of the circle of support. I make sure I keep my siblings updated on what’s going on with our mother. This is very important in this fight. As the caregiver, you will need to find space to take time to manage your own self-care while you lend support to your loved one.
Conclusion
There is no doubt about it, Breast cancer sucks and this journey is tough. However, knowing how to support your loved one can make a huge difference. How you handle emotions with supporting your loved one and navigating your own is impactful. Remember, communicating and connecting with all parties that make up the circle of support is paramount. Thank you for reading. UE supports the fight against breast cancer. Please check out our products for our Pink October Sale.
