|
The hope that things will get better and that tomorrow will be
brighter lives in all human beings, no matter what kind of struggles
they face. Emily Dickinson wrote:
Hope is the thing with
feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
That seems to capture how tightly we cling to hope. Young
people and their families begin feeling hopeful about the future when
they hear about the treatment that is available and about the great
progress that has been made against childhood cancers. The diagnosis is
still serious, and there are issues with treatment that cannot be
ignored, but there is reason for optimism. More than 75% of children
and teens are cured of cancer. For some types of cancer, the statistics
are even better. But these numbers only apply to groups of patients,
and can't be used to make predictions for any one child. When the
cancer is found, each person has reason to believe that he or she will
respond well to treatment and be cured. Most people believe that
tomorrow will bring better times.
Hope, for some, is bolstered by faith that there is a reason
for what has happened to their child and family, even if they don't
understand what it is. And, in the end, they believe that they will be
given the strength they need to manage. Although it is a struggle that
can feel very uncertain at times, most families are able to find a "new
normal" after a child's cancer.
Here are some ideas for strengthening hope for patients and
their family members:
- Seek facts about the diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Learn about progress in treatment methods.
- Give each family member a role in dealing with the illness.
- Maintain a healthy balance between optimism and reality.
- Find support in prayer, religious faith, or a spiritual
philosophy of life.
- Have confidence in one's ability to manage whatever must be
faced.
- Share a sense of hope with one another.
- Develop trust in the skills of doctors and other team
members.
- Learn from the stories of others who have sustained hope in
dealing with cancer.
- Find creative ways to bring joy or pleasure to each day.
- Learn to tolerate the ebb and flow of hope.
- Appreciate the beauty and wonder present in life each day.
- Accept that we only have the present moment in which to
live
e.
Go back to Children
Diagnosed with Cancer: Dealing with Diagnosis.
Last Medical Review: 06/02/2009
Last Revised: 06/02/2009
|
