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Category: Health News

Rochester, Minnesota - Cancer treatment can affect your ability to eat, talk, and have the energy to be social in a way that is vital to supporting who you are as a person. Side effects from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may be intense over long periods of time.

Some physical changes are obvious, such as hair loss and visible scars. At times you might be too fatigued or just uncomfortable to put yourself out there for a social outing.

Anyone with cancer can feel a sense of social isolation. However, this can be more intense for some groups. Treatment for head and neck cancer patients for example, causes changes in the mouth and throat that can affect a person's ability to swallow, talk and control secretions.

Those with leukemia may need to be isolated from others during chemotherapy prior to and during a bone marrow transplant. Those with chronic cancer or advanced cancer often face constant treatment without any sort of break from side effects.

Researchers studying this topic with cancer survivors have found that social isolation can increase anxiety, stress, depression and emotional distress.

If you're a caregiver, your time and energy may be so focused on taking care of your loved one that your social life may also be impacted. Think about all of the aspects of life that are social in nature, such as going to work, eating out, talking with friends, traveling, meeting for coffee ... the list goes on and on.

Staying connected when you're living with cancer is important. Getting support and social contact might look different during this time. Here are a few ideas to keep your social connections during times when you find it physically or emotionally difficult.

Mayo Clinic offers virtual options to connect with others who are living with cancer.