Being There for a Loved One with Lymphoma

The first step in helping your loved one with lymphoma is to keep updated on their condition and research the disease as much as possible. It can be very draining and depressing for the lymphoma patient to relay the extent of their disease, so ask them if they will record their next doctor visit. That way, you can listen to the recording to get the information on their condition and they won't have to re-open the emotional wounds talking about the disease. Obviously, you should make sure they are comfortable sharing this information with you in the first place. In some cases, loved ones will accompany patients to their doctor's appointments to provide emotional support and advocate for their loved ones.

You should also research lymphoma as much as possible. It is important to know the effect the disease will have on your loved ones. Research the common physical and mental symptoms accompanying the disease. You should also do a bit of research on typical treatments so you can know what to expect when their treatments begin. The difficult aspect of this is that lymphoma is very individualized. Symptoms tend to differ from patient to patient. Treatment options also tend to differ based on doctors and even regions. You should keep this in mind when doing your research. People also tend to react to the diagnosis differently. Make sure you talk to your loved one to understand what they really feel and need.