For the more than 15 million people living after a cancer diagnosis, the effects extend to their personal relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. Writing in Coping^® with Cancer magazine, Ruth Oratz, MD, a medical oncologist at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, provides strategies to help cancer survivors manage the impact of their diagnosis on these different types of personal relationships.

From dealing with barriers that affect intimacy with a romantic partner to the pressures of maintaining privacy with social circles outside of a person’s immediate family, Dr. Oratz recommends contemplating how interactions with others can become more meaningful.

“Managing your personal relationships during cancer and beyond is a unique challenge,” Dr. Oratz says. “Open communication and honest dialogue are the keys to enhancing your personal relationships, allowing you to draw comfort and strength from your loved ones during this challenging time.”

Read more from Coping^® with Cancer.