Communication is key
Bring up the hard topics You and your loved one are facing tough but important decisions. For example, you both may have different opinions about a certain treatment. Or perhaps your loved one is struggling with losing a piece of their independence and doesn’t want to burden you. Starting these conversations can be really hard. Here are a few tips for having tough conversations: l Your loved one may not want to hear what you have to say, and that’s okay — express yourself with compassion and care. l Speak from your heart and acknowledge how you’re both feeling. l Be clear about what you want. l It may take several conversations to solve a problem, not just one. l Sometimes just listening is the most valuable thing you can offer — let your loved one process their thoughts and fears in their own time and own way. l Lastly, at times your loved one must make their own decisions — it’s their life, and their cancer diagnosis. As a caregiver, you must accept that you cannot fix everything no matter how much you want to.
Communicating with others You may be the main person updating friends and family about how your loved one is doing. Start by asking your loved one what information they want to be shared, and with whom.
Consider communicating in different ways:
Emails
A family meeting If your loved one’s family or friends disagree on things such as treatments, getting people to talk together helps keep them informed. You could even consider bringing in a social worker or counselor to guide the discussion.
It might help to remember: This can be a stressful time, and everyone is trying to do what they think is best for your loved one.
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