Caring For A Child With Cancer: Comfort And Wellness Tips

Caring For A Child With Cancer: Comfort And Wellness Tips is explored in this article. Caring for a child who is living with an illness like cancer can be extremely difficult, and this disease takes a heavy toll mentally, physically, and emotionally on the whole family. As a parent, you want only the best for your little one, and it’s incredibly hard to see them in pain or discomfort. In many ways, cancer can make both you and your child feel powerless and out of control, robbing you of your ability to think clearly when it comes to figuring out how to move forward. One of the most important things to keep in mind is that your child needs comfort and can benefit from spiritual and emotional wellness during this difficult time.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help your child feel better, both emotionally and physically. Take into account her specific needs and talk to her doctor about the best place to start, especially when it comes to using alternative treatments or medicines. Treating cancer is often a painful experience, but if you can find a way to help your child relax and get some relief, she’ll be better equipped to handle it all.

Here are a few tips on how to help your child get through cancer treatment.

Consider some alternatives

Many cancer treatments—including chemotherapy—can be invasive and induce illness, leaving the patient feeling weak, nauseous, and exhausted. If your child has a hard time with her treatment, you might consider asking her doctor about CBD. Derived from the hemp plant but providing no intoxication, CBD has been shown in studies to reduce feelings of nausea as well as inflammation and pain, making it a perfect candidate for individuals who are receiving cancer treatment. If your doctor approves, check labels and brands to ensure you’re getting a quality product.

Keep them comfortable

Many individuals living with cancer spend lots of time in hospitals and doctor’s offices. If your child needs lots of treatment, help her stay comfortable by creating a travel bag full of things she can use, such as healthy snacks, a soft, warm blanket, her favorite stuffed animal or comfort item, an audio device with headphones, and a water bottle so she can stay hydrated. Make sure you keep hand sanitizer handy and wash any fabric items—including that stuffed animal—often, as individuals who are living with cancer have lowered immunities.

Focus on things that feel good

Because many cancers cause pain and are physically overwhelming, it can be helpful to focus on the concept of positive touch with your child. Brush her hair, rub her back, or give her a manicure (as long as it’s okay with the doctor). These activities may seem small, but they can help immensely after a tiring day of treatment. You can also make sure your child has soft blankets and pillows; doing what you can to help her relax and get quality rest will go a long way.

Help her stay in touch

Spending time going through a serious illness can take a huge toll on a child when it comes to their relationships; missing school and not being able to see or talk to friends can be extremely isolating, leading to loneliness or depression. Help your child stay social by connecting her with a smartphone app for video chatting, or get the email addresses of her friends and teacher so she can stay in touch.

Caring for a child with cancer can be overwhelming for both of you, so take care of your own needs as much as possible. This includes taking time to focus on your own self-care at home with practices like exercise and meditation. This is the best way to make sure your child gets everything she needs, since you have to be well-rested and have a positive outlook in order to help her do the same.

This article is brought to you by the International Pain Foundation, where we recognize the value of every person who makes up the chronic pain community. We are guided by our commitment to excellence, leadership, and patient empowerment. For more information about our work and how to get involved, visit our website today! This article is written by Scott Sanders.