Inflammatory breast cancer is fairly rare but highly aggressive, according to the National Cancer Institute and the Mayo Clinic. The cancerous cells block off the lymph nodes within the breast, causing it to increase in size while appearing red and swollen. Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and estrogen-blocking treatments slow the spread of the cancer. Dealing with inflammatory breast cancer is a difficult and painful process, so be prepared to lend your full emotional support to helping someone with this condition.
Instructions
Helping an Individual with Inflammatory Breast Cancer
1. Begin your research on the topic of inflammatory breast cancer to increase your ability to converse on the topic. Familiarize yourself with inflammatory breast cancer basics, such as symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, to have frank communication with the patient and physician. A knowledgeable caregiver can help the patient focus on treatment and solutions for emotional, physical and financial situations that may arise.
2. Learn the side effects of the various treatment methodologies so you can better know what to expect when helping someone with inflammatory breast cancer. For example, knowing that chemotherapy and radiation often cause fatigue and nausea, will allow you to prepare foods and beverages the patient can tolerate.
3. Be available to lend aid whenever it is needed, but do not force your hand where help has not been expressly requested. Many cancer patients grow to resent being treated with kid gloves, so be attentive to patient's verbal and non-verbal cues to let you know when help is needed and when you are better off watching from the sidelines. A high level of empathy and intuition in knowing when to help out and when to back off will make you an invaluable resource for someone with inflammatory breast cancer.
4. Seek counseling to discuss coping techniques and other measures for dealing with someone suffering from inflammatory breast cancer. Professional advice can increase your worth as a caregiver, along with giving you advance notice about the likely situations you will be facing while attempting to aid your patient.
Tags: breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, breast cancer, inflammatory breast, someone with, with inflammatory breast, helping someone