Losing a close relative or friend to cancer is devastating and life-changing.
You would feel emotions such as pain, shock, anger, agitation, guilt, and sadness.
Depression could also set in, and you may be overwhelmed with grief in the absence of grief support.
The most common challenge you would face would be how to deal with loss from cancer and move on with your life.
You can deal with the loss by letting yourself feel all the emotions you would feel during this time.
You need to talk to people about how you feel during this period.
You can also deal with loss from cancer by giving away the things that belonged to the person.
Taking care of yourself during this period helps you to deal with the loss.
And you must be patient with yourself.
Here are 5 ways to deal with loss from cancer.
Don't Fight Your Feelings
Loss from cancer is a painful experience for anyone to go through.
Some people may try to neglect how they are feeling by throwing themselves into other activities.
Activities such as planning a memorial, the funeral, legal procedures, and taking care of people who are also grieving so that they don't get overwhelmed by emotions.
However, it is important that you allow yourself to grieve and feel all the emotions during this period.
Allow yourself to experience both the negative thoughts you feel about the loss and the positive memories you had with the person.
This would allow you to deal with loss from cancer.
Don't be scared to rant, cry or yell.
They are essential parts of grieving and help you to release all the negative emotions.
Never try to ignore or fight these feelings or tell yourself you are not expected to feel a certain way.
Accept that you need to feel these emotions and the pain in your own time to let it out.
Grieving periods can be tough.
You might be overwhelmed by all that is happening, the emotions you are experiencing, and trying to come to terms with the loss of the person.
You can talk to someone you trust, like a close relative or friend or someone who has lost a loved one to cancer.
This helps you to deal with loss from cancer effectively.
You can talk about the loss, the memories you shared with the person, and how you feel and are grieving.
Don't be scared to let people know about how you are feeling and what your needs are during this period.
If you feel overwhelmed with grief, you can talk to professionals for counseling.
Grief Counseling is mostly helpful in coming to terms with the loss.
It helps you to deal with the loss better, and it is a healthy way to recover from grief.
You can look for a grief support group around you.
They can make you understand how you feel better and how to navigate this difficult period.
They can also offer help that would be useful to deal with loss from cancer.
If you are uncomfortable talking to people about how you feel, you can also write them down.
It's a healthy way to deal with grief.
Different people have different ways they deal with loss.
One effective way to deal with loss from cancer is to give away their things.
This method is important when you find it difficult to deal with the pain of their loss.
Giving away their things is not an easy task.
You can enlist the help of a relative or friend to do this.
You can choose to hold on to any of their items that bring you comfort or things that invoke special or happy memories.
Giving away their things helps you to face the reality of their long-term absence.
You can donate their things to charity.
You could also share some among other family members and friends so that they have something to hold on to the memory of the person.
Loss from cancer is a painful experience.
During a time of loss, you could feel like your life is on hold and there is no moving forward.
This could make you neglect important things such as eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, and self-care.
Taking care of yourself while you're grieving would help you deal with loss from cancer effectively.
As much as possible, eat healthy foods, take regular naps, and prioritize self-care.
You can also read a book, take hot baths or eat your favorite foods.
Exercise is also a healthy form of self-care.
It helps you to release stress and tension.
Don't feel guilty while you are doing all of this.
Try not to indulge in unhealthy habits such as eating junk, using drugs, or overconsumption alcohol.
They are not healthy ways to deal with loss from cancer.
Rather, they would make it more difficult to deal with and slow your grieving process.
Dealing with loss takes time.
Don't let anyone set a timeframe for your grief.
The fact that another person did not spend as much time as you're taking to deal with your grief should not pressure you to rush through your grief.
Be patient with yourself during this time.
Don't compare yourself with others or set a grieving timeframe for yourself.
Acknowledge that you are grieving and take active steps to recover from it.
Many things would determine how long you will deal with loss from cancer.
It may be your close relationship with the person or the suddenness with which the loss happened.
Being patient with yourself helps you to deal with the loss and come to terms with it.
You must deal with the loss when you lose a loved one or friend to cancer.
You can deal with loss from cancer by feeling the emotions you're experiencing, talking to people for grief support, giving away their things, taking care of yourself, and being patient with yourself.
https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/managing-emotions/grief-and-loss
https://health.choc.org/dealing-with-a-cancer-diagnosis/
https://www.mskcc.org/news/coping-grief-7-things-remember-when-dealing-loss
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
We offer a variety of specialized services, including individual therapy, group therapy, and various therapeutic approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychodynamic therapy.
Grief can seem worse in the morning as the reality of the loss is often one of the first thoughts upon waking. This can be particularly true if you shared many mornings with the person who has passed away during wonderful years spent together.
It's important to remember that you are allowed to grieve however you need to, and that doesn't mean you have to ruin the holidays for everyone else. If you need to take a break from holiday festivities, do so. Go for a walk, take a nap, watch a movie—whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. You can also try talking to your family about your grief ahead of time and asking for their understanding and support.
There is no set timeline for overcoming a breakup. Everyone deals with grief in their own way and on their own time. While some may be able to move forward quickly, others may take longer. Remember that it's normal to experience a range of emotions as you heal and don't rush the process.
It is completely normal to feel dread or even fear when thinking about the upcoming holiday season. One way to ease your anxiety is by planning ahead and being prepared for how you will deal with tough moments. If there are certain events you know will be difficult, try to come up with an exit strategy beforehand so you can leave if needed. It can also be helpful to talk to a therapist or counselor before the holidays to help you manage your expectations and emotions.
It is not mandatory that all conversations revolve around the issue causing your grief but our therapists will provide guidance on how best to process the situation. You are in control of how much or little you want to share in a session, but it is important to stay open and honest with your therapist for optimal results.
