How to Help a Friend Through Radiation

A friend's cancer diagnosis can be a frightening experience that destroys daily routines and diminishes your friend's sense of happiness. Radiation treatment can cause weakness, hair loss, urinary problems and other side effects. In addition, cancer patients may feel isolated, lonely or depressed as they undergo treatment. As you prepare to comfort and assist your friend through his cancer journey, remember to treat him as you did before he was diagnosed with cancer. You may also need the support of other people as you take on the challenges of helping someone who is living with cancer.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk to your friend when she desires. Do not bring up her cancer or treatment unless she mentions it first. Avoid making such statements as: "I know how it feels" or "You are brave." Express sorrow that your friend is undergoing radiation and offer to help her.

• 2

  Ask your friend about activities for which she may need assistance. If you cannot assist in all of these activities, arrange for other family and friends to help complete those tasks.

• 3

  Perform chores or housework for a friend. Cooking a few nights a week, picking up his children from school, mowing the lawn or cleaning the house can ease the burdens of someone undergoing radiation treatment.

• 4

  Transport your friend to and from radiation treatments or doctor appointments. Setting up appointments or tracking medical appointments for your friend may also be an important task to complete on her behalf.

• 5

  Plan outings or events with your friend. Keep your friend's condition and energy in mind as you make plans. Reassure him that if he does not feel like getting out to have dinner or go bowling, you can always stay at home and watch movies or play board games.

• 6

  Continue your usual activities as much as possible despite the cancer diagnosis. If you went for weekly walks before, try to keep this routine going. Discuss issues or interests that you talked about before the diagnosis, like books or television shows that you both enjoy.

• 7

  Give your friend a gift. Depending on your friend's interests and abilities, you may give pajamas, magazines or craft supplies to keep her occupied.