Happy Holidays From the Abramson Cancer Center

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Stay Connected This Holiday Season

Tracy Lautenbach, MSW, LCSW, OSW, is the social work team leader for radiation oncology at Penn. In this article, she reminds those with cancer, or who are cancer survivors, to stay connected to the ones they love this holiday season.

Holidays are traditionally viewed as a time to celebrate with family and friends. 

However, sometimes people with cancer and their loved ones feel they are out of step with the rest of the world during the holidays. Patients and family members wonder how they will be able to take care of themselves while meeting the demands of the season. It is also a time when people become reflective about their illness and the what the future holds form them.

Sharing concerns with the people you love and who are your supports is a way to help you stay connected during this time.

How do you cope with the holiday season? We'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments section below.

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More Gift Ideas for Someone with Cancer

Carly Roop RD, CSO, is a registered dietitian at the Joan Karnell Cancer Center (JKCC). She provides nutrition education and support to patients while addressing nutrition-related side effects from chemotherapy and radiation. Dietitians at JKCC provide educational nutrition programs that are open to patients as well as the community.

Can You Still Have a Merry Time Without Eating or Drinking?

It seems impossible to go anywhere or do anything without eating or drinking, especially, during the holidays. The calendar fills up with dinners, holiday parties or drinks after work and the morning talk shows feature gift ideas that are food-related as well, because I guess they figure we all have to eat.

However, if you know someone with cancer currently undergoing treatment or if you are going through treatment you know firsthand the effect it has on someone’s appetite or ability to eat.

I am amazed at the extent we are linked to food; food not only feeds us physically, but food feeds us emotionally, culturally, socially and psychologically. For some their aversion for food may only be temporary but for others they may never be able to eat normally again.

So what can you do at Christmas for someone with cancer who can’t or isn’t interested in eating? Hopefully, these ideas below will help you get your wheels turning:

• Bowling: I know that you can eat while you are bowling but when you think about all the people touching the balls…do you really want to?
• Paint your own pottery or take a painting class: I’ve seen painting classes on social coupon websites, and there is usually a BYOB option, if you are so inclined.
• Go to the Nutcracker: Unlike the movies, you are encouraged to finish your drink or snack before taking your seat.
• Have a spa day
• Make a book on tape or read someone to sleep: Who doesn’t like being read to?
• Make a mixed CD: This may sound high school, but your friend or family member will appreciate the time and thought you put into the gift and they may even like the songs!
• Go to amateurs’ night at comedy club: It’s a good time, and everyone loves to laugh.
• Take a walk or drive around to the neighborhood to take in the beautiful or garish Christmas displays
• Go to the museum
• Spend time putting together a gigantic jigsaw puzzle: I knew someone who would frame his puzzles after they were done and hang them as art
• Photography: Sometimes it’s more fun to be behind the camera
• Accessories: Shoes, for example, don’t have to be Louis Vuitton, but sometimes a new pair of shoes can make you feel like you have a new wardrobe.

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Gifts for Someone with Cancer

Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN, is an oncology advanced practice nurse at the Abramson Cancer Center. She has worked in the areas of medical hematology and oncology, bone marrow transplant, clinical research, radiation therapy and staff development. She is also the nurse educator for OncoLink.

Have you thought about holiday gifts for someone with cancer?

The holidays can be very stressful- particularly when you are already dealing with a cancer diagnosis or are the caregiver for someone with cancer. Perhaps you know someone in such a situation. Whether they are a family member, good friend or just the woman down the street you always pass when walking the dog, you may be thinking about their struggles this holiday season and want to show them you care. I encourage you to think outside the box of chocolates.

In my years of caring for and talking to people with cancer, I have never heard “so-and-so gave me the nicest box of chocolates.” What they do remember is the kind – and often free – gestures from people, no matter the time of year. A card with a kind note; a meal left on the front steps while they were at treatment; leaves raked when they just couldn’t do it themselves. Be the holiday helper who shops for and wraps all the kid’s gifts or decorates the house when the person had no energy to do it - remember to come back and un-decorate too! Deliver a holiday meal or invite them to yours.

You don’t need to spend money to show someone you care. Simple gestures can be so helpful - walk their dog, taking out the trash cans on trash day, call when you are going to the store and offer to pick up some items. A “gift” of your time and energy goes a long way to making someone feel cared about and special.

Have I got you thinking? Need more ideas? The OncoLink Holiday Survival guide has many more ideas for special gifts and shares survivor’s memorable gift stories.

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