Bring a companion
to each appointment
2
Ask for help with
transportation
1
Ask for help with the kids
4
Delegate everyday tasks
3
Tackle the day with someone you love
5
Talk about what you’re experiencing
6
Have a self-care ally
7
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Transportation is a common barrier to cancer
care. In a study from 2022, 3.1% of cancer survivors reported delays in care due to transportation challenges.
Even if you have your own vehicle, you may not always feel well enough to drive yourself to treatment. Or, maybe treatment makes it challenging to drive home.
Keep a list of multiple loved ones who are available to help with transportation, so you have options to lean on when you need help.
Ask for help with transportation
It's normal to want to maintain your privacy during breast cancer visits and treatment. But bringing a loved one along has important benefits.
Their companionship alone can provide a sense of support. And having someone else in the room when your doctor is going over details can help you recall that information later on. You can even ask your loved one to take notes.
After each visit, you can discuss what was said from both of your perspectives.
Bring a companion to
each appointment
Delegate chores like cleaning, shopping for groceries, and preparing meals to others so you
can prioritize your breast cancer treatment and recovery.
Asking for help for demanding tasks, such as home repair, may also be necessary if you’re experiencing side effects from cancer treatment like easy bruising, fatigue, or increased infection risk.
Don’t have anyone available? Make use of commercial meal programs and local grocery delivery services.
Delegate everyday tasks
Kids can have busy schedules between school, social events, and extracurricular activities.
Asking family members to handle pickups and dropoffs and organizing rides with teammates and peers can help eliminate that obligation from your schedule.
Arranging help with your kids can also give you more time for important appointments. It can even provide a much-needed break when breast cancer treatment is taking a physical or emotional toll.
Ask for help with the kids
If you aren’t ready to completely share your
load with others, just spending time with someone who is positive and caring can still make a big difference.
Being around strong emotional support is associated with a more positive outlook and better quality of life during cancer treatment.
Instead of tackling a chore like house cleaning alone, consider inviting a loved one over to
conquer the job together.
Tackle the day with
someone you love
Holding in all of your thoughts and feelings
during breast cancer treatment can be emotionally draining.
Talking with a loved one about what you’re going through can bring relief and helpful insights.
It’s important to approach the conversation in a proactive way, however, as strictly negative emotional “venting” can put the focus on all of
the bad, increasing thought rumination.
Talk about what
you’re experiencing
Self-care can fall to the wayside when you’re feeling drained and over-scheduled. But research shows self-care can significantly boost health-related quality of life for cancer survivors.
Having a loved one act as a self-care accountability partner helps ensure you get this important recovery component into your day. You can ask a loved one to check in with you for activities like daily walks, pampering sessions, game nights, or partner yoga.
Have a self-care ally
ways to lean on your loved ones when undergoing Breast cancer treatment
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