Getting Through Christmas with Cancer

Even though the Christmas season is a time to rejoice and find joy within loved ones, it can be a time fraught with depression and distress. When you have cancer, Christmas can remind you that you're not as healthy as you once were or wish you could be. You're too weak from the chemotherapy and/or radiation to do some of the activities you once loved.

On one hand, it's a time that you are grateful for the things you have in life, but long for the things you don't. We can make it through this holiday with all its activities foods that may make our stomach curl even though we once looked forward to them. There are ways we can make it through and even enjoy some of those things.

One of the things that can really get us down is not being able to eat all the foods we tend to associate with the Christmas season like cookies, hot chocolate, egg nog, devil eggs, and so much more, but we can still enjoy them through the cancer and side effects from the treatments we get. When it comes to the sweets that can sometimes get the better of us, we don't have to eat a ton like normal. We can have a nibble or two of a cookie, or suck on a home made hard-tack candy. Even if we don't feel like eating one of the key things we need to do anytime of the year is to eat. So when it comes to the deviled eggs and other foods served on Christmas day or Christmas Eve, eat in little portions, almost the portions of a child. Having food in our stomachs would give us strength to stay somewhat active during the holidays.

This is the time of year that friends and family have parties even church has parties, some even go Christmas caroling and some families like to drive around and see how other homes have been decorated. Because of the chemotherapy, we may not feel up to doing all these things so often in one month or two. It's a lot of excitement and things to do for someone feeling weak. But what we can do is go to each party for a few hours or until we feel ourselves getting tired then we can leave and relax at home to take a nap or whatever we feel we need to do.

As for caroling, we can have a friend bring a chair that we can sit on, or just go caroling to places inside like personal care homes or hospitals so you would be warm. We can have people over to our homes so we still are in the comfort of our own homes, but enjoy being around our friends and family. And it doesn't have to be for something extravagant, just a small get together to watch a movie or relive memories of Christmases past.

Joy isn't simply found in presents, or food or activities, but the people we surround ourselves with. This is a season where we make sure we are with those who support us the most. This is when we can thank them for being there when we needed them and never leaving us as some people may have done. Yes we may look at some families that don't worry about cancer, but the fact is, it's a part of our lives. We cannot let that get us down during this time of year or ever. There are ways to enjoy ourselves, and for each one of us it's different.

For me it's sitting back and watching my friends and family interact. I take a lot of pictures to remember them and their love. If I feel tired I lay my head back and close my eyes for a bit, or I go to another room if I feel dizzy. I eat little things throughout the day instead of one big dinner. I want to be able to enjoy the season instead of worrying about this cancer thing. Even during the holidays we can lean on those around us. Let them help us. Instead of us decorating allow a friend or family member to put up the tree and they can help you decorate it instead of you doing it alone.

We cancer warriors need to find ways to lead as normal lives as we possibly can, and there are ways to do it. It can be hard for us to enjoy the holidays when we are feeling so sick and down. But we need to remember that simply because we have cancer doesn't mean that our lives are overt and we become hermits. Go out and do things, go out and enjoy the holiday with friends and family. Granted we need to be a little more careful about the weather, but dress warm, do things inside opposed to outside. The holiday season doesn't have to be another reminder that you are sick in anyway.