華裔癌友所面對的困難 Difficulties faced by Chinese cancer patients

 
Being diagnosed with cancer is very traumatic. Immediately, the patient may be faced with these concerns:

 

  • Am I going to die?
  • Will I be able to go through the suffering and pain?
  • Will I lose my job and livelihood?
  • Can I afford all the extra expenses?
  • How am I going to communicate with the healthcare providers?
  • Will I pass my cancer genes onto my children?

 More concerns will pile up as the patient goes through treatments:

 

  • I feel helpless
  • I don’t want people to look at me now that I have lost weight and my hair
  • I don’t know what’s going on with all the treatments I am receiving
  • I am not sure if all these treatments will work
  • This is too tough.  I want to give up
  • I don’t see any hope

 When the doctors tell the patient that they have done their best and there is nothing else they can do to cure him.  A desperate flood of emotions overcome the patient:

 

  • Anger
  • Hopelessness
  • Unfulfilled life wishes
  • Fear of rapid downturn of physical conditions and pain
  • Uncertainty of what will happen after death

 These difficulties are compounded by:

 

  • Language barrier
  • Unfamiliarity and mistrust of Western medicine
  • Traditional myths and superstitions about cancer
 While the doctors concentrate on the medical aspect of treating the patients, all these emotional needs are often not addressed. Our volunteers are trained to help the patient in these areas through listening and counseling.  We are also sensitive to the spiritual needs that go deeper than these exhibited emotions and expressed concerns, and stand ready to pray for the patient and bring him to God.
 

華裔癌症病人所面對的困難

被診斷患有癌症對任何人都是一大打擊，病人馬上會想到很多的焦慮，例如：

§         我會死嗎？

§         我承擔得起這麼重的病痛嗎？

§         我會失去工作及養家的能力嗎？

§         我如何負擔這些額外的醫療費用?

§         我如何與醫療人員溝通?

§         我的癌病基因會遺傳給兒女嗎?

 

治療過程中，病人會產生越來越多的擔憂：

§         感到無助

§         不願意別人見到我身體消瘦、頭髮脫落的樣子。

§         我對目前所接受的各樣治療跟本就不明白是怎麼一回事。

§         我對這些療程沒有太大的信心。

§         太辛苦了，我不如放棄吧。

§         我感覺沒有什麼希望了。

 

當醫生宣告他們已經盡了一切的努力，再也沒有什麼可行的治療方案了，病人情緒會變得十分激動。他們會感到：

§         奮怒

§         絕望

§         人生中還有許多未實現的願望

§         害怕身體會迅速惡化及疼痛

§         不知人死後會有什麼事情發生

 

更糟糕的是：

§         語言障礙

§         對西方醫學不熟識及不了解

§         對癌症有許多傳統的錯誤觀念和迷信

 

醫生專注的是如何醫好病人的身體，但他們不會兼顧病人感情上的需要。我們受過訓練的義工可以在這被疏忽的感情需要上，用聆聽及個別輔導來幫助病人。同時，我們體會到，在表面的情感表達後面、還有更深一層的靈命需要。陪伴病人的義工已經準備好隨時隨地可以替病人禱告，及帶領他認識上帝。