Whether you’re the patient receiving the news—or a family member, loved one, friend, or partner hearing the diagnosis—it’s very difficult to process, to know what to do next, and to handle the wide range of emotions.
These emotions are not ever simple, nor linear. It’s more like a roller coaster ride, with some decent days, some terribly awful days, and some days that give special moments of love, joy, or hope—as if someone had suddenly sprinkled glitter into a bright ray of light.
One emotion that is proven to help people face serious illness and better handle difficult treatments is hope.
Hope as a Strategy—How Does It Help?
The dictionary defines the word “hope” as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
Hope is viewed differently in different cultures and religions, but does it have an efficacy in medical situations? Does it help? The short answer: It depends. The truth is, hope is more likely to help those who believe hope helps. Conversely, hope isn’t as likely to help patients who have a negative mindset about hope, or about emotions in general.
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An article from Stanford University gives the example of Viktor Frankl as evidence of hope’s power. Frankl, a well-known survivor of the Holocaust, was facing death in a concentration camp during World War II. There, he found that many of his fellow captives continued to maintain a reason and purpose for living. Frankl credits hope and meaning as reasons he survived the atrocities he endured.
Still today, researchers have found that hopelessness often leads to poorer survival rates and lower outcomes.
This same Stanford article goes on to state, “For patients with cancer, the future is often unknown, and hope is what keeps them alive to endure treatments and social and personal adversities.
“Hope is supported by the positive attitudes of the medical team, but can also be very fragile. Anything that demoralizes a person can negate the feeling of hope, which can make a difference in accepting or denying the next set of treatments if failure occurs.
“Hope keeps one alive to fight for another day, a month, a year . . . it affords another opportunity to respond to therapy and to live.”
“Hope helps me overcome the fear that comes with the diagnosis and circumstances. I will not let a diagnosis determine my identity …it will not define my life.” – S
What Does Hope Mean to You?
Hope means different things to different people, and it can mean something different on any given day or time.
Roswell Park Compassionate Cancer Center asked their patients to share their definition, and we’ve included some of their responses here.
“Hope is believing we’re all going to beat this, and a cure for all types of cancer will be found. Hope, belief, strength, positive thoughts, and prayers are what get me through each chemo treatment.” — L
“It’s that one thing that keeps you going when your body and mind want to give up. It’s that voice in your head that says, “You can do this!” It’s that friend who holds your hand and leads you through the darkness. Hope is everything. Hope is life.” – A
“Hope is believing in your doctors and yourself to beat cancer. Faith, stubbornness, positivity, and a sense of humor have also helped me, a Stage IV oral cancer survivor who had to learn how to talk and eat all over again.” – C
“As a 25-year Stage 4 non-Hodgkin Cancer, BMT and Kidney Transplant Survivor, I rely on hope and strength to get me through each and every day!”” – S
Emotions and Their Impact on Cancer
The National Cancer Institute makes the connection between emotional health and physical health, explaining that cancer can impact your emotions just as it does your body.
There’s no manual to instruct you how to feel or warn you about the different emotions you might experience. The key is to remember that you can feel however you feel, and what you’re feeling is normal.
Don’t beat yourself up—save that energy to fight back against the cancer. Instead, give yourself grace and use these resources to better cope whenever you’re feeling any (or all) of the following emotions:
- Overwhelmed
- Fear and Worry
- Stress and Anxiety
- Anger
- Sadness and Depression
- Loneliness
- Guilt
“I hold onto hope and enhance the desire of staying here by thinking about my children, my greatest treasures. I want to spend more years with them and my grandchildren.” — J
How to Respond to Someone Who’s Received a Devastating Diagnosis
Northwestern Medicine offers great advice in their article “The Best (and Worst) Ways to Support a Friend With a Serious Illness.” However, the old adage we learned as children is true: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Here’s a list of 5 potentially unhelpful things to say:
- “I know exactly how you feel.” Even if you’ve had this exact diagnosis, you never know exactly how someone feels.
- “When So-and-So had this diagnosis, such-and-such happened.”
- A joke of any kind, or any comment on their appearance such as, “Well, at least you’re losing weight!”
- “I’m sure you’re going to be fine.”
- “Everything happens for a reason.” This can make a person feel that they are at fault or to blame for the illness.
“Treat them as a person with an illness, not an ill person.” – Sheehan D. Fisher, PhD
What to Say to Someone Who’s Really Sick
It’s wise not to assume you know a person’s spiritual beliefs or to project your own beliefs onto them. But if they’re open to talking about it, kindness dictates we listen without judgment and talk about our personal beliefs if we’re asked to do so.
When it comes to conversation, people who are suffering don’t want to talk about their illness all the time, as if that is what now defines them. Often, though, we don’t want to appear callous by talking about other things that could very well be quite insignificant in the scheme of things. However, if your friend or family member is well enough, invite them out to dinner, to go to a movie, or to enjoy an experience you know they like. Just remember to also ask if you can pick them up and drive.
“Hope helps me overcome the fear that comes with the diagnosis and circumstances. I will not let a diagnosis determine my identity …it will not define my life.” – S
Helping Providers Help Patients, It’s What We Do
Keeping patients comfortable and safe during long infusion or oncology treatments is crucial. At Champion, we ensure that healthcare professionals have the clinical access and ease of use they need, while creating a comforting and reassuring experience for the patient.
Browse our Digital Catalog to view our patient-centric medical seating solutions and accessories.
Click the button below to learn more. We’re happy to help you decide the best selection for your facility’s needs.
