The Top 8 Tips to Cope With Cancer During the Holidays

The holidays can be a bittersweet time for those going through or recovering from cancer.

While we can want to partake in all the old traditions – watching holiday movies in our PJs, sipping hot chocolate by the fire, baking – we sometimes find that we have to allow space for where we are at.

The key to the holidays, for all of us, but especially cancer survivors, is to choose the things that make your heart sing and really prioritize that!

For example, this year we are really busy and we are also experiencing the first Christmas without my father-in-law and so I can feel the grief coming on.

While I could normally push to get “all the things done” – I really love when my Christmas tree is fully adorned and standing proudly in my living room. So, that is my focus rather than thinking I “should” get the decorations up outside or I “should” make time for baking.

But, if you are already finding the holidays overwhelming and you’re trying to survive, here some key tips to helping you ski through with a little more ease:

1. 1. Be kind to yourself: Don’t take on more than you can handle, and give yourself time and space to feel however you’re feeling.
   2. Ask for help: Delegate tasks, ask friends and family to help, or plan a potluck instead of hosting.
   3. Connect with others: Join a support group or program for people affected by cancer. You can also talk to a loved one, friend, or professional counselor.
   4. Focus on new traditions: Try to focus on new traditions or activities you enjoy, and keep the traditions you love.
   5. Take care of yourself: Eat a healthy diet, limit sugary foods and alcohol, and make time for activities that make you feel good.
   6. Share your feelings: Let others know how you’re feeling, and express your feelings in ways that help you receive support.
   7. Celebrate strengths: Reflect on the strengths you and your loved ones have developed, and build on them during the holidays.
   8. Consider your schedule: Talk to your health care team about upcoming special events, and ask them not to release test results until a designated time or to support you more fully if you do need to address treatments, tests or other facets of treatment/recovery.

You can also take some very specific actions to help you physically do better through all the hubbub of the season:

1. Hydration – it sounds like a no-brainer, but during the winter months we can need more fluids with our dry indoor heat and cold, dry outdoor weather and the many celebratory drinks (potentially alcoholic and sugary). So, drinking plenty of water can not only support your body but hydrate your mucus membranes in your nose and throat to help trap the bugs.

2. Sleep – as the holiday parties and occasions kick up, our sleep can slide. When we compromise our sleep we compromise immune function. Keeping a healthy sleep schedule can keep us thriving.

3. Supplements – be consistent! This goes a long way to helping maintain balance in our bodies, so don’t fall off the wagon with these helpful tools!

4. De-stress – remember to honour your boundaries. It’s ok to decline an invitation or leave the party early so you can make sure to stay healthy and can do all the things you want to do over the holiday period.

A perfect time to really lean into de-stressing is during the days leading up to New Year’s Eve.

We call this the “lost time” in my household, because it’s that time when all the hubbub of Christmas is over, but we’re still anticipating New Year’s Eve.

So, I always ask my family and my patients to think about: What are we doing to be “found” during this time?

Being “found” is about reconnecting to ourselves and really determining how we want to spend this time in a way that is meaningful for us.

Now, I know not everybody may have this “down time”, but if you do, I encourage you to ask:

How do I want to spend this down time?

I like to use these 3 filtering questions:

1. What do I want to do today?
2. What must I do today?
3. What am I most grateful for?

These can help us feel more grounded, connected and grateful during this time.

We don’t need to make the holidays an “all or nothing” affair. Instead, take a moment to really hone in on what brings you the greatest joy.