Patients often feel some trepidation about broaching the subject of their cancer diagnosis and treatment to their friends, bosses and co-workers. Although they hope that this new fact would not change their friends’ view of them, such is not often the case. Some friends may withdraw out of awkwardness, unsure as to how best to respond. Others may back away out of some innate fear of contagion. Still others may be overly inquisitive or obsequious, treating the patient as a fragile china doll and fearful that they may break. Employers may make plans to alter or lessen patients’ workloads, causing resentment from co-workers. For example, employers fearful of clients’ reactions to the patient’s diagnosis may move patients whose primary duties involve face-to-face interactions with clients away from such direct contact positions.
Just as is the case in dealing with the family, the best avenue for dealing with other people is to be honest and open in answering all questions. Patients should express their gratitude for those who express their sympathy and understanding. They should also be prepared to answer the concerns of those who may feel that the disease will impact their relationships, either personally or professionally. Patients can also take this opportunity to address any issues their employers may have in terms of both their ability and availability to carry out their duties during treatment.
Support groups also provide excellent avenues for a patient to have a level of social interaction. These groups can give the patient something that no other group involved in the process can: the voice of experience. For patients at the beginning of their treatment regimen, they can chat with (either in person or online) other group members who have moved into more advanced phases of treatment and can let them know what to expect as their treatment progresses. Such groups can pass advice, share stories and reinforce the idea that the patient is not alone in their process. Groups can serve the purpose of both emotional support and educational resource and many are tailored to the patient’s age, background and specific form of the disease.
The journal Social Science and Medicine published a study that showed a statistical link between social support and recovery:
“Coping was assessed half a year after surgery, while benefit finding was examined 12 months post-surgery. Correlational and path analyses showed a link between personal resources (self-efficacy) as well as social resources (received social support) and benefit finding. The effect of self-efficacy disappeared when coping was specified as a mediator between the resources and benefit finding. Social support retained a direct effect on benefit finding. The results emphasize the predictive quality of resources for recovery and adjustment after surgery and the mediating role of coping.“
Whether it is through family, friends or peer groups, patients should realize that they are not alone in their efforts. Any constructive social outlet can help patients understand that they have resources to communicate their ideas in spite of the disease. As patients at one highly esteemed cancer center say in their television commercial, “I have cancer, but it doesn’t have me.”