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Cancer and the Holidays

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12 Comments

For survivors, the holidays can be a difficult time. If you are in treatment you may worry about seeing family members for the first time since diagnosis. You may also wonder how to deal with people asking questions about your cancer. If you have a loved one just diagnosed it can be difficult to know how to address their cancer or offer support. You may have just lost a loved one to the disease and are unsure if the holidays will be ?the same? as they were in years past. We at LIVESTRONG want you to know that we can help. LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare offers free, professional, one-on-one support. You can call before the holidays to get guidance on dealing with cancer at the holidays or at any time to receive support. During the holidays we will open all but the following days: December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. We hope to hear from you. Best to you and your family this holiday season!

LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare
Email through our website: http://www.livestrong.org/survivorcare
Call us on the phone: 1-866-673-7205

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Catherine-Verrilli/502743777 Catherine Verrilli

    Thank you for this resource. My dad is near the end (lung and bone cancer), and we will all be together with him at Christmas. I know this is for “survivors,” but I am glad to know you’re here for me, too. I’ll survive my dad, and will continue to support LIVESTRONG!

  • http://livestrong.org Brooke McMillan (LAF Staff)

    Catherine-
    SurvivorCare is for all people affected by cancer (that means you too!) It can be tough for everyone to know how to react. If you are concerned about the holidays, caring for your dad, helping to support other family members, dealing with hospice, medical bills or anything else, please call us. We are here for your whole family:

    LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare
    1-866-673-7205
    http://www.livestrong.org/survivorcare

  • http://chemorocks.blogspot.com Michael Birdsong

    Since last Christmas, when my mother-in-law entered home hospice, both she and my father-in-law have now died of cancer. The whole idea of “The Holidays” seems like and alien concept.

    You just keep moving forward and keep believing next year will be better than the last.

  • Tina Wagnon

    I never imagined Christmas 2008 would be the last Christmas I would spend with my Daddy. Unfortunately, it was and I can’t even imagine celebrating it without him this year. After about a month of really bad leg and back pain, he went to the doctor. On the same day, he became unable to walk and was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Just after three days there, on July 3, 2009 we would hear the worst words ever…”cancer and paralyzed”. It was lung cancer which had spread to his spine and his liver. He was in the hospital for 10 days. Then as he wanted, we brought him home to be with his family, friends and his dog. Two months and four days later, on September 5, 2009 we lost him. Cancer took my hero away and my heart has never recovered and I am not sure it ever will. Our lives and the holidays will never be the same. Thanks to the LIVESTRONG Foundation for all the information you sent to us on dealing with our loss.

  • jason

    im sorry about you dad, i know how you are felling this will be my first christmas without my big brother. we lost him to lung cancer this year. he was only 40 years old. by the time the doctors figured out what was going on he was already in stage 3. chemo did nothing to help him. he found out he had cancer last thanksgiving and he passed on 4-19-09. man i miss him

  • ROLAND

    I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FRIEND FIRST FOR SENDING THIS LINK..THANK YOU TRUMAN..

    MY WIFE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED THE TERMINAL BONE CANCER AND I’M TRYING TO MAKE THIS THE BEST CHRISTMAS I CAN, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST ONE I WILL HAVE WITH HER. I DIDNT REALIZE HOW BAD SHE WAS FEELING EMOTIONAL. DEBI IS IN PALITIVE CARE. SHE HAS A COUNSELOR TO TALK TO HER, BUT HAS JUST NOW STARTED OPENING UP TO ME. I WANT THIS TO BE THE BEST CHRISTMAS SHE EVER HAD. I’M HAVING THE PROBLEM OF GETTING OUR DAUGHTER TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY BE THE LAST ONE SHE WILL GET TO SPEND WITH HER MOTHER. EVERYTIME I TRY TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT, SHE JUST STARTS CRYING AND SAYS SHE CANT DEAL WITH IT..
    WE’RE IN GEORGIA AND SHE IS IN FLORIDA. I CANT FORCE HER TO COME HERE AND WE CANT AFFORD TO GO THERE. I DONT BELIEVE THAT DEBI COULD MAKE THE TRIP WITHOUT GOING STRAIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL WHEN WE GOT THERE ANYWAY.
    I AM GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT THE BEST I CAN FOR DEBI. I JUST WISH COULD MAKE OUR DAUGHTER UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT TO IS TO DEBI THAT SHE IS HERE. SO IF ANYONE COULD GIVE ME SOME ADVICE ON HOW I SHOULD APPROACH THIS I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

  • http://livestrong.org Brooke McMillan (LAF Staff)

    Roland- Please call us. We’d like to offer support for you and some guidance on how to deal this holiday. We are open today till 5pm CST and 9-5 every week day.
    1-866-673-7205

  • Heath Walker

    One of my best friends brother, Matt and 20 something yr old ? good kid, has the same situation as Lance did ? testicular cancer that spread throughout his body. The last few years of fighting recently they had hoped it was gone until last week. He needs some inspiration and hope ? a call, text, email? ?someone to show him the impossible is possible even by the ordinary?. He broke down yesterday unsure he can keep fighting. Just putting out there for a miracle message for Matt.

  • http://livestrong.org Brooke McMillan (LAF Staff)

    Heath- Call us 1-866-673-7205. Talk to Sarah and tell her a little about what’s going on. If you can get his mailing address, please make sure to provide. We want to send him an encouragement card.

  • kristin

    My family did not know either that last christmas 2008 will also be the last christmas with our dad. my parents found out my dad had cancer and was to far along for chemo or anything, the cancer spread throughout the lungs bones and liver, 3 month later on sept. 10, 2009 my dad passed away after spending 4 days in hospice, when my dad left us all 5 of his children and my mother were right there surrounding his bed as we all got to tell him our good byes and what an Awesome dad he was to all of us. I am just glad he looked at all of us at that moment before he left. it will be hard for us this holiday but my dad was very giving and spoiled all of us every holiday and I know he looking down at everyone saying don’t be said but carry on what he has done and be giving in his name. love you dad.

  • kristin

    To Roland who wrote on Dec. 15th regarding his wife and daughter who has not come down to visit her mom, my dad died 3 months ago of cancer and it really does suck, but all my brothers and sisters came down the day my dad fell and was rushed to the hospital. as much as we did not want to face it, the joy on my dads face when he seen all 5 of children and a few of his grandchildren right there at his bedside along with my mom, I know how hard it is on your daughter but you need to tell her it is the cycle of life no matter how much you hate it, and that she will regreat not coming to see her mother god forbid anything happen. I will pray for your wife and pray for your daughter to find the courage to come see her mom before it is to late.your daughter has the chance to tell her mom to her face how much she loves her and your wife needs to hear that, if she doesen’t she will hate herself. Luckly for us even though last christmas we did not know it would be the last one with my dad but for some reason all my family just so happened to be able to come down to visit and it was the best christmas ever. I miss my dad but I am glad I had the chance to tell him was an awesome dad he was right before I left. your daughter can get through this with your help. I willpray for your family.

  • ROLAND

    THANK YOU KRISTIN,

    WELL DEBI AND I HAD A PRETTY GOOD CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY. IT WAS JUST THE 2 OF US. WE MADE ALL THE PHONE CALLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY. THEN DEBI CALLED JACKIE, IT WAS LIKE SHE COULDN’T GET OFF THE PHONE FAST ENOUGH AND THAT TRUELY JUST BROKE DEBI’S HEART. SO AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF HER CRYING, I GOT HER SETTLED DOWN AND WE ATE DINNER(THE FIRST TIME I EVER COOKED A TURKEY..LET ME BREAK MY ARM PATTING MYSELF ON THE BACK…LOL). WE PLAYED SOME BOARD GAMES. THEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE LITTLE ADVENTURES WE HAD TRAVELING ACROSS COUNTRY AND LOOKING THROUGH THE PHOTO ALBUMS. SHE REALLY ENJOYED THAT. SO I THINK THAT SHE HAD A GOOD CHRISTMAS.. NOT AS GRAND AS I WANTED IT TO BE, BUT HEY I TRIED MY BEST AND WE WAS SMILING AND LAUGHING THE WHOLE NIGHT.
    I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY WHNING. IT FELT GOOD TO GET IT OFF MY CHEST.
    ON THAT NOTE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY:
    “HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU”!!!
    I’M ALITTLE TIRED RIGHT NOW, BUT I WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU ALL ON THE BLOG
    GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOOD NIGHT
    ROLAND