After being informed that they have cancer, most people are in a state of psychological crisis. For the first two or three months, the patient may refuse to acknowledge the disease and experience psychological problems such as depression, depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and some physical discomfort. As a loved one of the patient, you need to take good care of him/her in the following ways.
Nutrition
Nutritional aspects
Provide a semi-liquid or liquid diet (such as chicken soup, milk, rice porridge, etc.) that is high in protein, calories, and vitamins in the early stages of the disease;
- Provide a clean, fresh and airy eating environment and stimulate the patient’s appetite by adding color, aroma and taste to the food according to his or her taste;
- For a patient who cannot take care of himself/herself, you need to help or assist him/her to eat;
- For a patient who has extreme difficulty eating, you will need to assist him/her to go to the hospital and take intravenous supplementation;
- Tell the patient to rest more in bed and reduce activity to reduce physical exertion.
In terms of pain
- Tell the patient to avoid eating overly hot, coarse or acidic foods to reduce local irritation;
- Provide a quiet, comfortable resting environment and ensure he/she gets enough sleep to reduce pain;
- Observe the site, nature, degree and duration of the patient’s pain and record it to tell the physician at the next visit;
- Teach the patient distraction methods, such as self-relaxation techniques, hypnosis, and listening to music. The patient may be agitated and you need to be attentive to help him/her relax together and not be impatient;
- When he/she is in severe pain, you should give him/her the necessary pain medication under the guidance of the doctor.
In terms of activity
- Encourage the patient to move moderately, such as getting out of bed, walking in the park, or playing tai chi. However, it is important to provide “logistical support” so that he/she does not feel tired when alternating between activity and rest.
- The patient’s activity level and duration can be gradually increased.
Emotional aspects
Provide a safe, comfortable environment for him/her to express his/her emotions. Loved ones should encourage and comfort him/her more, so that he/she can face the disease squarely, regain hope and enthusiasm for life, forget about the disease, and gradually return to society.
It is important to note that if your family member is unfortunately in an advanced stage of esophageal cancer, you need to be prepared because there may be no hope for him/her to be cured. But you can still give him/her the right physical and mental care and life care to help him/her walk comfortably through the last part of his/her life.