Jill Harrington LaMorie, MSW, LSW, Patient Services Manager, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter

The holiday season is typically a time viewed by people as one of celebration and joy.  However, this season can be a stressful time if you or a loved one is coping with cancer.  What you "want" to feel and what you "may" be feeling may present an array of complex and confusing emotions to those living with and being treated for cancer.  The holiday season can be a particularly difficult time both physically and emotionally for cancer patients and their families. 

Here are some tips for coping with cancer during the holidays:

• Set realistic expectations for yourself this holiday season.  What you "want to do" and "what you can do" may be very different. 
• Keep decorating simple. 
• Be patient with yourself.  Be patient with a loved one being treated for cancer.
• Accept help from others.  It is ok to realize you may not be able to "do it all" this holiday season.
• Prioritize the most important and least stressful events of the holiday season for you.  
• Pace Yourself: Give yourself permission to pace your activities and decline an invitation so that you can reserve your energy for the get togethers that are highest priority for you.
• Rest.  You may easily fatigue during or post cancer treatment.
• Food.  Holidays are usually centered around food.  You may be dealing with nausea this season and can not tolerate certain foods.  Your taste buds will eventually come back.  Eat what you can, what you are allowed and what you can tolerate.
• Make no apologies.  If you can not make a party, eat holiday meals, do not feel you need to apologize.  Give yourself permission to say, "I do not feel up to it". 
• Establish new holiday traditions, so you can still celebrate the holiday season, but it may need to be different this year.
• Talk with your doctor about infection and your risk of infection.  Ask for their advice about your exposure to others this holiday season.
• Shopping:  BE CREATIVE!  You can shop from your own home.  Use catalogs, or try shopping on-line this year. 
• FIND SUPPORT:  Coping with Cancer during the holidays can be a very stressful time both physically and emotionally for patients, family members and caregivers.  Sharing your experience with others can be comforting and helpful.  For further information about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Blood Cancer Family Support Groups contact Jill Harrington LaMorie, MSW, LSW at 610-521-8274 ext. 259 or jill.harrington-lamorie@lls.org