Best Interventional Radiology Doctors in Dallas

Information may not be reliable

Being diagnosed with cancer is a shocking and trying experience, not just for the patients who have to undergo treatments to kill the tumors and regain their health, but for their loved ones as well. If you are a friend or family member of someone who is about to undergo treatment at one of the best cancer hospitals in North Texas, this article is for you – to help you be as supportive and helpful to the person you love as you possibly can be. The suggestions in this article come from many sources – from the American Cancer Society, from cancer support organizations, and from our own experience as interventional oncology specialists in Dallas.

What can you as a caregiver do to help your loved one as they fight cancer?

First and foremost, keep in mind the things you can't do. You can't make your loved one's diagnosis go away, and you can't undergo their treatment for them. But you can make sure that they get the best medical care possible, and schedule time with the team of professionals providing the treatment to ask them how best you can provide help. The ways you will be able to help will depend on the nature of the treatments. For example, systemic chemotherapy or external-beam radiation therapy may result in side effects such as nausea and weakness, whereas the gentler, more focused interventional radiology (IR) procedures used by MTV IR may be freer from such side effects. So above all, talk to the physicians themselves, and follow their advice for how to best help your loved one. But also keep the following suggestions in mind for how to be an effective caregiver:

·         Help with practical matters. Become your loved one's "treatment buddy," and be available to take them to and from the hospital for each session. This will free them from worrying about how to do it themselves. Run errands and take over tasks that they would normally perform so they don't have to.

·         Help with meals and around the house. They may not feel like cooking or shopping, so any help you can provide with these tasks will really help. Offer to provide child and pet care and "follow through" so they don't have to worry.

·         Offer companionship and be a good listener. The biggest challenge for caregivers is often "how to be natural" when talking to someone with cancer. It's difficult, but our experience tells us that the more natural you can be with your loved one, the more they will appreciate it and the better they will feel.

·         Talk about subjects other than cancer. Talk about your mutual interests, hobbies, and things that you love. Patients need a break from being patients.

·         Make them laugh. As cliché as it may sound, laughter really is the best medicine, so try to find ways to laugh together. Rent your favorite comedies and watch them together, crack jokes, whatever it takes. It will help. Really.

·         Remember to take care of yourself, too. Being an effective caregiver means not overdoing it and becoming so physically fatigued or emotionally drained yourself that you can no longer help. So remember to do whatever keeps you healthy and happy – get lots of sleep, eat well, meditate, do yoga, exercise, etc. The healthier you are, the better you will be able to help your loved one regain their health.

Ask your loved one's doctors for help if you need to

At MTV IR we are here to provide not only the best care we can for patients, but for their families and caregivers as well. If you feel that you need advice or help in taking care of your loved one between treatments, just contact some of the best interventional radiology doctors in Dallas and we'll be happy to help any way we can. You might also look into publications specifically aimed at caregivers such as the National Cancer Institute's "When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer."

Author Bio: Some of the Best Interventional Radiology Doctors In Dallas discuss ways you can help prepare someone you love for a Cancer treatment.