Being a Friend

In our second segment recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we talk about how being a friend is often all that is needed to help someone going through cancer treatment.

A simple smile can warm the heart of somebody experiencing chemotherapy. Scientists at the University of Kansas investigated the potential benefits of smiling. What was suggested is that a smile can lessen heart rate and minimize stress. Even if it’s hard to smile, a “fake” smile still can promote lowering anxiety.

When you’re going through cancer treatment, every bit help. Here are a few ways that may bring a smile to the special person in your life that needs an extra lift.

• Escape. Help your friend “escape” with some entertaining media. A book to immerse themselves in can take them to another world. Or, a movie can occupy their mind with positive thoughts.

• Connect with touch. Positive thoughts and happiness in the mind are connected to the body’s well-being. Help your friend relax with an appointment for a soothing massage. If they don’t want to leave the house, offer them a back rub or foot massage in the comfort of their home. An at-home massage from a friend has bonus benefits anyway. Physical friendship interaction triggers oxytocin, the body’s natural feel-good chemical.

• Take cooking off her plate. Cancer treatment can wear you down, making even the simplest and most necessary actions hard, like eating. Take cooking off of your friend’s to-do list. Help them stay full of nutrition by preparing healthy meals for them. Don’t have time to cook yourself? Send them a thinking of you gift. We’ll even include a hand-written note with a message of your choice.

• Alleviate household burdens. House cleaning or doing the laundry may be simple for you, yet it can wear on somebody going through cancer treatment. Offer to stop by once a week and help with tasks like laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc.

• Chauffeur, anyone? If cooking and cleaning is a laborious task for your friend, just imagine how complicated of a process driving can be. Offer to drive your friend where they need; appointments, groceries, etc.