Alexandra Detwiler has many things in her life that she has planned for, worked for, and earned. She and her husband live in Manhattan, New York and she works in television development with NBC Universal. Alexandra also has something that she did not plan for and that no person deserves: A loved one diagnosed with terminal cancer.
She shares that life-altering predicament with millions of people across the globe, and in a recent article for Today Health, she shares her insights and the lessons learned as she and her family care for her mom who is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, a glioblastoma multiforme.
- Firstly, maintain your sense of humor. You and your relatives deserve and need as much joy as can be found in every moment.
- Find a support group of people who know what you are experiencing because they have experienced the same things. Some friends will want to be supportive, but will not understand your emotions and frustrations.
- Be realistic with your expectations for yourself and others. You are not able to dictate how others will respond. Anticipating too much from people will set you up for disappointment.
- Educate yourself to be involved and informed about treatment options.
- Appreciate life’s simple moments.
- Remember the healthy days and do not just focus on the cancer. It is a powerful disease and can easily overwhelm an entire family.
- Appreciate the honor you have to know your loved one and to be in a position to care for and assist them.
Contact Issels Integrative Oncology for more information about our personalized non-toxic treatments.