You’ve received the phone
call about a positive biopsy. Yes, it’s cancer. Now what? At some point after
the diagnosis, a decision must be made about how family and friends will be told
this information. This may be difficult, particularly for those who don’t want
to burden others with their problems or who are used to handling their problems
independently. But sharing this information is supported by research as
contributing to quality of life.
In a study including 45
cancer patients, researchers investigated the
association between cancer patients' ability to share information about their illness
with selected others and their quality of life. This was the conclusion:
Encouraging patients to share information
about their experience of cancer may help to improve their quality of life. Attachment security (emotional bonding
with others) seems to promote social sharing.
In this video,
Tamarin Severin, who was diagnosed with cancer in both breasts, shares the plan
she created to inform her husband, son, mother, and later her friends. She put
a lot of thought into how to do this and was very pleased with the results.
Becoming
Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available
in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and
offline booksellers.
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