Kate’s cancer diagnosis: How to support a partner with cancer

The Princess of Wales has spoken about how her husband has helped throughout her diagnosis and has said he has been “a great source of comfort and reassurance” for her. This is how charities recommend you can support a loved one with cancer:

1 Provide support

It’s important to support your partner, while letting them take as much responsibility as they can for things like their care, the family unit and other decisions. Keeping an open dialogue with your partner is key, talking about how you both feel, while also accepting help from family members and friends should you need it.

2 Embrace a changing role

Cancer can put pressure on a relationship, and change how your respective roles look – particularly when it comes to things like housework, finances and social activities. This can lead to resentment, or you may feel guilty that you are not doing enough. These changes can be hard for you and your partner. It is important to talk to each other about how you feel and what matters to you.

3 Try to listen

This is key advice for supporting anyone with cancer, not just a partner. You don’t need to have all the answers, but just listening to a loved one’s thoughts and feelings can have a huge impact. Let the person with cancer lead the conversation without interrupting them, maintain eye contact without staring, talk in a private and relaxed setting, and avoiding trying to cheer them up if they cry.

4 Explore intimacy together

Make time for yourself and your partner, and help them feel more confident, as they might be feeling self-conscious about how they look epending on the situation.

5 Take care of yourself too

Remember, although you have not been diagnosed, you are going through your own experience of cancer. It is OK to ask for help for yourself as well as for your partner

There are plenty of free support helplines for both the person diagnosed, as well as family and friends. Macmillan, Cancer Research and Cancer Support UK, to name a few

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