Taking Care of a Loved One With Cancer
Copyright © 2006 Heaven Ministries - Angie Lewis

I’m not personally taking care of a loved one with cancer but I know a friend who is, and it can be overwhelming at times for the spouse or caregiver. They never know what to expect from day to day. Some days may be wonderful and both of you are walking on air and the next day can be totally the opposite. This is why it is so important to always stay focused on Jesus and continually pray for a miracle. God is the omnipotent giver of miracles and we have to believe that. 

“…but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV) 

Spouses of partners with cancer should always try and stay strong spiritually, mentally, and emotionally to help speed up recovery. It is a known fact that our emotions and feelings, good or bad, rub off on others. Married people are like chameleons with one another. When a spouse is feeling good they both feel good. When a spouse is feeling awful they both feel awful. So you should try and be as healthy a chameleon as you possibly can in mind, body, and soul for the spouse or loved who has cancer. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NIV)

If you stay positive and focused on different ways and solutions of dealing with the trials of cancer it will help your spouse through some of the challenges and obstacles they may face during the illness. If your spouse is having chemotherapy treatment, they will probably feel nauseated and depressed for sometime afterwards. Find out what you can do to make your loved one feel as physically comfortable and mentally positive as possible. 

Always stay hopeful in your thoughts, so that when you talk you will bring encouragement and hope to your loved one. Read to them inspirational stories that will make it easier for them to get their mind off of the sickness and on thoughts that are comforting and possibly even therapeutic. This will not only relieve them of thoughts of dread and doubt about their life, but will also help you to feel better about the situation as well.

We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:18:10-11 NIV)

Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 
(2 Corinthians 5:6-9 NIV)

Knowing that a loved one may be in pain and is suffering physically and emotionally can be a depressing period of time, and that is why it is so beneficial to keep the presence of Jesus alive in your minds, and close to your hearts through prayer and supplication. Study the bible together with your loved one and help them and yourself to feel at ease about dying. Explain to them that in Jesus Christ there is no death, only eternal life. 

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 
(1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV)

If you know your loved one is going to die, prepare them. Make what is unknown and fearful to them now, something that is not dreaded or feared. Be prepared and ready that your loved one may sometime in the future fall asleep in the Lord. Help them to not be in fear of death, but to see it as a transitional period from this old, heavy burdened life to their new glorious spiritual life with God in His Kingdom in His Heavenly Paradise. Let them know they will only fall asleep in the Lord and will wakeup to everlasting life in God’s Kingdom. 

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV)