“Survivors” of Cancer can be Family Members
My friend’s sister died of ovarian cancer over the weekend. She was battling it for many years, and had become progressively ill in the past year or so. When she began to have respiratory distress and fell into a coma, the family knew that the time has come.
Family members can feel a mixture of grief and relief - grief at the loss of someone they love, and relief that he or she is no longer suffering from the pain of cancer. Cancer survivors may not only be those who were patients and have “beat” the disease, but may be family members who survive the cancer patients who have passed.
I reminded my friend the vacation she spent with her sister during the most recent winter holidays, and how my friend has been a supportive aunt to her nieces. The knowing that their children will be taken care of by a supportive network of loving people may provide a peace of mind to cancer patients - and this in turn may provide some comfort to family members who ultimately lose their loved one to cancer.
Related Stories
POSTED IN: general commentary
2 opinions for “Survivors” of Cancer can be Family Members
Hsien Lei
Mar 21, 2006 at 8:32 am
Thanks for sharing this with us, Jane. It really puts a human face on cancer. We gotta kick this disease’s butt!
Jane
Mar 21, 2006 at 10:59 am
Ovarian cancer is particularly insidious because patients are often asymptomatic (i.e. they feel “fine” most of the time) until something really goes wrong. Those with a family history can be vigilant about screening and detection, as well as being aware of how their body feels.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: