Treatment and Family Expectations

You carry out different roles every day. You may be a friend, a parent, a daughter, a spouse, a lover, a sister, a worker, and a breadwinner all at once. Each of these roles makes demands upon your time and energy. Fatigue and stress caused by your treatment may prevent you from taking care of duties that you once took for granted. If you are not able to meet these demands, you may feel guilty and become frustrated. You may not be able to do as much for your family as before, but you still have a lot to offer through your love, your caring, and your friendship.

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Because of your illness, your family and loved ones may try to protect you. Even though they mean well, you may feel like they are taking away your independence or your rights as an adult. After treatment, when you start feeling better, your loved ones may have become used to you in the role of a patient. You may need to sit down together and discuss how to switch back from the caretaker and sick-person roles into your usual, more balanced roles.

For more information about your cancer treatment and its impact on your sexuality, please talk with your doctor, nurse, social worker, chaplain, or family therapist.