Newswise — For most people, the holidays are a time of joy and celebration. But for patients living with cancer and other serious illnesses – and for their caretakers – the season can be a time of overwhelming stress. Time- and energy-consuming tasks of shopping, decorating and cooking, can even impact their health.
“The pressure to get it all done can interfere with the healing process, and even lead to physical symptoms such as insomnia, aches and pains, and elevated blood pressure,” says Jeanelle Folbrecht, Ph.D., chief clinical psychology professor at City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center known worldwide for its uniquely patient-focused care.
“There’s no question that the hype around the holidays can be challenging for cancer patients.” With more than 20 million Americans living with cancer, patients and their caretakers may need some practical advice for reducing stress – and its impact – during the holidays.
One tip, offers Dr. Folbrecht, is to prioritize holiday rituals. Patients should consider forgoing some of the less-important traditions and events to avoid becoming overburdened. "Cancer is often a full-time job. There won’t be time for everything, so patients and caretakers should look for ways to simplify the holidays,” she says. “This may mean replacing certain traditions with new, less physically taxing ones, dropping certain traditions altogether, having holiday meals catered instead of cooking them, or asking for more help from family, friends or neighbors.”
For more holiday-stress-reducing tips, or to interview Dr. Folbrecht, please call Valerie Howard, at (626) 218-8215, or (310) 483-9285 or email at [email protected].
For more information on Dr. Folbrecht: www.cityofhope.org/faculty/folbrecht-jeanelle
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