Everyone of us knows that death is inevitable but most of us don't think about it until it is a time to face it. With the advancement in the filed of medicine a lot of diseases can be diagnosed and if God forbid someone is given a news of being diagnosed with a terminal illness that is going to lead to death in a few months time it is really very shocking and difficult to accept it.
A few points are summarized here to help and support those with a diagnosis of a terminal illness.
1. Hearing The News for The First Time: Patients who might get to hear the diagnosis of a terminal illness are usually not well but almost none of us can except to hear such a dreaded news. Being sick is fine but there are hopes to get well soon. Learning for the first time about such an illness is initially very shocking and the patient may feel numb and refuse to accept it.
It is important for the physician to ask the patient if he /she needs a close friend or a family member to accompany when coming for the results.
2. Going Through the Process Of Grief: It is completely normal for a person to go through a process of grief similar to when one loses a beloved one or faces death of someone very close. This process of grieving may have a range of emotions like:
- Shock
- Fear
- Anger
- Denial
- Guilt
- Helplessness
- Sadness
- Frustration
- Finally Acceptance.
3. Look And Ask For Different Options: Although on the first time the patient may be so numb and confused it is important to have a follow up appointment with the physician when both the doctor and the patient can work together and discuss different available options regarding the further management. The patient can also search for better options and how to live along with the disease.
It is also important that the patient gets a chance to ask all the questions in his mind and the ways to deal with the disease process.
4. Sharing the feelings; Sharing the feelings and the sadness with the people you trust is an important step in getting relief and support. It is always personal and it should not be forced to speak to someone if the patient don't feel like to. Some people may like to be left alone to grieve.
Nowadays one can fine many support groups where people can fine others suffering from the same process and can more openly share their feelings.
5. Disclosing It To friends And Family: Sometimes it becomes very hard to give the bad news to close friends and family members. It is important also to discuss personal choices like funeral arrangements etc with the close members.
Young kids may go into grieving process knowing about their parents illness. This issue should also be addressed appropriately.
6. Get Help From A Therapist: It is important to get help whenever need. Counselling sessions may help live a better remaining life and prevent from overwhelming depression and sadness.
7. Making up Certain plans: Many people find comfort in making preparation for the death. They may like to write a letter to a loved one to be read after their death, clear up the debts, get together with family, seek forgiveness from someone who was hurt in the past, spending time with kids or grand children etc.
8 . Living With the Diagnosis/Illness: It is not for sure that once the diagnosis is made for a terminal illness the patient has to die within the exact time period. It is important that patient keeps oneself distracted and busy as long as he lives. Try to stay happy for the loved ones and enjoy the remaining time with them. Take care of oneself paying attention on diet, sleep and general well being. Take one day at a time and try to achieve small goals that can give some confidence.
9 Staying Hopeful: After knowing that you are very close to your death many times still there are many hopes to live for. Some people believe the life after death and may prepare for it and hopeful to meet the loved ones they have lost in the past.
10. Love and Comfort from Loved Ones: It is important for the close friends, spouse, parents/ children to give hope of comfort and the needed love to the individual who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Some may help to fulfill some long awaited wish and make them happy etc.It all counts and will be remembered forever.
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