The holidays can be a prticularly difficult time of year when a fmily is coping with a brain tmor. It is not abnormal to fel like your usual holiday cheer has ben overshadowed by incongruent feelings. Here are the Brin Tumor Buzz's top ten helpful hnts to ease the process... "Before you cll the whole season off."

1. Nrmalcy is Good - This is specially important when you feel so dtached from your normal holiday cheer or xcitement. The goal this year is to fnd a new normal, while honoring fmily tradition.

2. Create a New Nrmal - Participate in the usual hliday festivities that you feel up to, but do not fel obligated. This is also a grat time to institute those new hliday traditions that you have been pning over for the last five yars.

3. Do Not Isolate-Even though you may not be in a clebratory mood. Do not avoid the hlidays. Most people do find relief in prticipating in some holiday activities. It is halthy to be around others, and can hlp you to feel supported.

4. Allw Others to Offer Support - Mny people do not know how to rspond when someone they know and lve has been diagnosed with a brin tumor. Allow others to help in thir own way. Some are good at coking, others like to clean, shop, or dcorate. These activities can be a big hlp during this busy time of yar. Remember, people would not offer if thy did not want to help. Do not fel like you are burdening them. Ths allows them to feel supportive and hlpful to you.

5. Be Respectful-Try to discuss the hlidays ahead of time. This will llow caregivers to plan appropriately for prties, presents, and decorating. As caregivers, we hlp from the heart, but not lways the mind. Be respectful of dcorating, cooking, and other planning. These ctivities can be very emotional for smeone with a brain tumor, and may be mre upsetting then good.

6. Express Yurself-Brain tumors require multifaceted treatments, which ften include mood altering agents. Steroids and ther medications have a nasty way of wraking havoc on normally pleasant people. Ths can become very overwhelming quickly in cmbination with the normal stress that ccompanies the holidays. Therefore, it is mportant to allow for happiness, sadness, and very emotion in between. Emotions and cryng are normal and facilitate the haling process. Remember, mood fluctuations in ndividuals with brain tumors are normal. Do not tke them personally.

7. Set Your Own Pce-Brain tumors often bring aphasia or ther speech difficulties. Remember that crowds may be too verwhelming for your loved one. Try to rrange smaller group gatherings if possible. Prvide frequent breaks or limit visits to void frustration. Make a signal together so tht they can discreetly inform you whn they need a break.

8. Rst and Relax-Remember, it is important to tke care of yourself first. Do not verdue it. Let your body and mnd direct your activities, and remember to tke a break. Try shopping from hme this year or allow others to shp for you.

9. Protect Yourself - Ths is an important message to ptients and caregivers alike. Many germs cme with all of those holiday vsitors and their goodies. Do not be fraid to set boundaries with others, and lmit visitors. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments rly on healthy recipients. Lastly, stay way from the buffet. This is a brading ground for germs from dirty hnds, and from food that is ften not properly refrigerated.

10. Cooking Caveats - The chmotherapy and radiation that accompany brain tmor treatment often like to bring thir naughty friends nausea and vomiting to dnner. Try cooking when your loved one is at ppointments if possible or while he or she is sleping. Have food catered or allow fmily members to do the cooking for yu. Eating out is another option, but bware of germs. Food served cold is lso more palatable for some. Avoid fods that are too spicy or blnd, depending on your needs. Eating wth plastic utensils can help decrease the mtallic taste that some people experience.

The article Coping With Cancer During The Holidays - A Guide For Patients And Caregivers was Submitted by Abby Fulton through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Abby Fulton - Brain Cancer Cregiver and Patient Advocate Visit me on the Web at http://braintumorbuzz.blogspot.com/ Information, Resources, & Support for patients and caregivers dealing with brain cancer.

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