Holiday Travels

For many cancer patients, the holidays will be coming to them. Friends and family will do the traveling to get to where they are in order to celebrate, and the patient can stay home where they are comfortable and get the rest they need. But for some, especially those for whom their treatments have ended or are not physically debilitating, there may some car or air travel in store. Two of the biggest challenges for a cancer patient who is traveling are comfort and energy. Both can be managed fairly well with a little advance planning.

If you're flying, be aware that you will be required to remove any hats you are wearing at the security check point in the airport. If you normally wear one due to hair loss, you might want to put a scarf on under it. If you are uncomfortable removing your hat at all, explain that you are undergoing cancer treatments and ask the security personnel if you can step behind a wall to remove your cap.

One common issue that accompanies many cancer treatments is lymphedema or edema. This can be very uncomfortable on a normal day, but when riding in a car for long distances or flying at high altitudes, it becomes even more painful. If you're flying, purchase your ticket by phone rather than buying tickets online and request a seat with more leg room. Many jets have a row of seats at the front of the coach cabin that provides a little more space for this kind of adjustment. In a car, scoot the front seat back as far as it will go and ride with your feet up on a pillow or bag in the floor. Plan to stop every couple of hours to take a short walk and get the circulation flowing again.

Many airlines do not provide pillows or blankets anymore, so be sure to pack a lightweight fleece in your carry on luggage that you can get to easily. If you can't carry an actual pillow with you, pack an inflatable bath pillow in your bag that can be blown up once you're on the flight to help you with lower back or neck pain.

Long-lasting energy is key during a long trip, and calories and protein are the best way to go. Peanut butter sandwiches, a bag of nuts or trail mix, and string cheese are easily packed and carried. Remember that you can't carry drinks into the airport, but it might be a good idea to purchase a big bottle of water once you're through security to help you stay hydrated on the trip.

Many people undergoing chemotherapy can have compromised immune systems. If you are not sure what your white blood count is, check with your oncologist's office to find out if they think it's safe for you to be in public spaces like airports and airplanes before you make your travel plans. At the very least, carry hand sanitizer and use it often as you encounter public restrooms and other areas that could hide some nasty germs (those plastic security bins at the airport, rental cars, etc...).

Always check with your oncologist before planning travel when you're undergoing cancer treatment. While we can provide a few tips, they know your specific situation and physical condition and may have other concerns than what we have touched on here.

We at Hope Cancer Resources wish you and yours a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year in 2011!

Cancer + Holidays = Stress

Ahh...the holidays. We get excited about decorating, buying gifts, visiting with friends and loved ones... But the holidays can be incredibly stressful and even depressing for a cancer patient and their caregivers. You may be too exhausted to make travel plans or host your annual open house. Besides the physical challenges of being a cancer patient, the holidays can also be very difficult emotionally. Feelings may not always be joyous. In fact, during this time of year a cancer patient may deal with many complex and overwhelming feelings that they are able to stay on top of during the rest of the year.

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

For the Patient...
Prepare yourself emotionally.
Holidays are often a time of remembrance, and of looking ahead. For a cancer patient, both of those things can cause feelings to surface that have been dormant or non-existent previously. Fears about your continuing treatments, recovery period, or how long your remission will last can all be overwhelming when faced with loved ones' questions and concerns. Know that you may be asked questions about your diagnosis and your current state of health, as well as your prognosis for the future, and decide how you will handle those potentially uncomfortable moments.

Plan to get together with friends, family or co-workers.
As much as is possible depending on your physical stamina, plans should be made to spend time with people who are supportive of you and your situation. Don't assume that you need to stay away from everything - it will only lead to feelings of distress and lonliness. That said, you don't have to do it all! Allow yourself to decline invitations if necessary. Your health and well-being is your priority.

Keep it simple.
If you have traditionally been the one expected to provide the meals and host the festivities, ask everyone to bring their favorite dish or suggest a restaurant instead. Perhaps you could host a mid-afternoon get together or dessert reception instead of a sit-down meal? Enlist friends or a maid service to help you prepare for a gathering, and clean up afterward.

Share the work.
You may be apprehensive of the holidays because you have always been the one who managed the planning. Take care of yourself by confiding in close friends or loved ones and asking them to take on part of the burden. Many times those closest to you want to help, but aren't sure what to do. Let them be there for you.

Be a creative shopper.

There are so many catalogs and internet shopping options available nowadays, there's no need to get out in the crowds and exhaust yourself (not to mention the risk of infection if your blood counts are low). Many online stores even offer free shipping for orders of a certain size, or those made by a certain date. Take it easy, and enjoy the giving - not the shopping. And don't think a gift card is not an acceptable gift! Many local merchants like Walgreens have great selections of cards from restaurants and stores found all over the country. You can get all your shopping done while waiting for your prescriptions to be filled!

Share your feelings.
Seek out additional support if it's hard to talk to those you're closest to. Find a support group or just talk to someone one-on-one. Communicating your feelings - even the ones you find difficult to admit having - can help you feel less alone and more connected. (Contact Hope Cancer Resources with your questions about talking to a counselor.) As suggested above, be ready for questions about your cancer diagnosis and prognosis. If you would rather not discuss it, don't be afraid to post a little note at the front door or on the invitations you send out that designate your home as a Cancer-Free Conversation Zone.

Set goals for the New Year.
A cancer diagnosis can alter your future plans and even your personal priorities and life path. But there is nothing that says a re-evaluation is not valuable, no matter what your situation is. Even if you're not sure how things will turn out after your treatment, make plans and set goals. It can help strengthen your resolve to recover and get back in control of your life if you remind yourself that there's something out there to work toward.


For the Caregiver...
Remind your loved one that you care, and are there.
They may need a little extra reassurance that they are needed and loved, even if they can't do all they have done in the past. Give them gifts that speak to who they are apart from being a cancer patient. Let them know you see them as a person, not as a cancer patient.

No pressure, please.
Invite your loved one to join in holiday activities, but don't pressure them to be involved in every event. They may need to rest their body and their mind in order to make the things they choose to do more enjoyable.

Offer to help.
Offer to clean the house, do laundry, cook, get groceries, decorate, etc. Give your loved one the opportunity to decide what they want to do, and then help with the rest. If you're not sure what you can do to help, or aren't sure what they want to do for the holidays - just ask! Talk to them about their feelings and share your own. Working together to make decisions about holiday preparations can help each of you feel more connected.

Be sensitive to their feelings.
Don't expect your loved one to react to the stimuli of parties, family gatherings, and even small things like a quiet meal the same way as they have in the past. They may be grateful for the time with you, but feel guilty about the efforts others have to make to get them there or work around their physical needs. They may be frustrated about an unknown future and find it hard to fully appreciate being in the moment. These kinds of emotions are normal - allow them to feel what they feel and communicate those feelings to you (or not) without judgement.

Maintain some normalcy.
Your loved one probably wants to celebrate the holidays as normally as possible, without a lot of time spent dwelling on their cancer. Let them know you are with them because you love them and enjoy their company, not because you feel sorry for them.


**Thanks to CancerCare for the original fact sheet that inspired this post!

'Tis the Season

We have our holiday tree up in the HOPE office, and ornaments handmade by the members of our staff are hanging on it. It's a daily reminder of the holiday season we're in... challenging this year for a lot of us, but even tougher for many people in Northwest Arkansas who are undergoing cancer treatments.

But as requests to HOPE for assistance may be increasing due to higher heating bills and other budgetary challenges surrounding the holidays, we have also been on the receiving end of some wonderful gifts from local organizations and individuals who support the work we do in Northwest Arkansas. The more we receive, the more we can provide to those who need it... we're thrilled to share a little information about some wonderful recent gifts:

$5,000.00 was donated from the proceeds of the 18th annual Rocktoberfest put on by the Rockcrawlers 4x4 Club of NWA the first weekend of November. 200 trucks and jeeps and other off-roading vehicles participated in various competitions over the weekend. There were als0 lots of activities for kids, and some great raffles... Many thanks to Ken Phasey, Jeff Sullivan, Craig Hill, and all the members of the club for their support!!!

$1,000.00 came to us by way of the Replenishment Team at Wal-Mart (Dept. 8022). We were so pleased to visit with them and hear one of their team member's personal story of HOPE's impact on her mother-in-law's life.

$500.00 was donated by friends and co-workers of a great guy named Graham who works at the Fayetteville Senior Center. He agreed to shave his beard and cut off his LOOOONG hair all for HOPE's benefit. He asked for $250.00 to take it off, but actually got $500.00! Thanks Graham!

We are so grateful for all the support we receive from our community. Thank you, Northwest Arkansas, for helping us help our friends and neighbors who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis.