The holiday season in oncology can be emotionally demanding for patients, even when treatment continues as planned. While medical routines often remain unchanged, the psychological and social weight of this period may intensify. In this short Q&A, Dr. Konstantina Boniou shares her perspective on supporting patients during the holidays, highlights the importance of communication and continuity of care, and explains the thinking behind a small initiative designed to offer practical guidance during this time.
Would you like to briefly introduce yourself and tell our readers what your role is in the daily care of oncology patients?
I work as a radiation oncologist alongside patients navigating one of the most challenging periods of their lives. My role is not only to deliver treatment, but to remain present, clear, and steady when uncertainty is high.
During the holiday season, what do you feel changes most for oncology patients, even when their treatment continues as scheduled?
The holidays don’t pause treatment — but they often magnify emotions. When the world celebrates, patients are reminded of what feels disrupted or uncertain. That contrast can be heavier than the treatment itself.
As a senior radiation oncologist, how do you approach patient communication and support during the holidays, when anxiety can often be amplified?
During the holidays, patients don’t need extra reassurance — they need consistency. Knowing that their care remains stable and that someone is still listening makes a real difference. Presence, not promises, builds trust.
You recently created a small holiday leaflet with practical ideas and guidance for oncology patients. What was the main need you aimed to address through this initiative?
The idea behind the leaflet was simple: to remove pressure. It offers patients permission to experience the holidays on their own terms, with realistic and gentle suggestions rather than expectations.
If there is one key message you would like oncology patients to carry with them during the holiday season, what would it be?
You don’t owe the holidays strength, optimism, or celebration. You owe yourself care. And care does not stop because the calendar changes.
A Heartfelt Message from Dr Shikha Jain to Patients Before Holidays
Here, the practical guide created by oncologists from Greece offers oncology patients realistic and thoughtful ideas to navigate the festive season. With a focus on maintaining wellbeing, staying connected, and preserving a sense of normalcy, this guide provides valuable support for those facing cancer during the holidays
It s Christmas time, open your heart and dream…
Live the atmosphere…
• Try to be yourself and avoid overthinking of your health condition.
• Consult your doctor on potential side effects from your disease or treatment, since looking for a pharmacy these days can be stressful.
• Keep a supply of any medication you may need. The most common types of medication you may need are painkillers, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhoea tablets, and laxatives. Find out what kind of medication might be useful and make sure you have it with you.
• Ask your doctor if you are immunosuppressed, as some people mistakenly believe their immune system is weak and avoid social interaction. However, not all chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other types of treatment necessarily cause this. So don’t miss out on interacting with your favorite people for no apparent reason.
• Don’t isolate yourself! Keep in touch with people, whether in real life, by phone or social media. Stay active and social online, download applications and join groups that can help you share information or meet people who know what you’re going through. Some applications allow you to have a virtual drink with a friend or play an online game.
• Talk to your relatives and friends, get emotional, and if you feel the urge to do so, you can cry even more intensely. If it’s good for you, share your problem with others, but try to keep it short so you can enjoy the rest of the day.
• Hug your loved ones or pets as much as you can.
• You can ask for their help if there is something you need. For instance, they could buy some presents on your behalf or send a greeting card to a person that is far away.
• Keep your house or garden clean and tidy or ask for some help. If possible, try to change the room that you spend most of your time in or try redecorating it.
• Decorate your house. If you’re feeling tired, the decorating process can become more fun if you have friends and family around for assistance and social interaction.
• If you are uncomfortable with your new body image, here are some ways to boost your confidence: a) Take a shower with your favorite soap or shampoo, b) Have your hair or makeup done at home by a hairdresser or aesthetician, c) Put on clean shoes and clothes, d) Put on makeup, your perfume or aftershave.
• Think about your favorite foods, desserts, drinks and beverages. Make a list of the ingredients you need and ask your doctor which ones you are allowed to have and in what quantities.
• If some ingredients are not allowed, ask about possible alternatives. Find out what restaurants, bakeries, theater and cinema venues are open during these days. Some therapies may cause a change in the taste of food (metallic taste or just different).
• Use a different water brand or try adding some spices to your food.
• You can experiment with new savory or sweet recipes and even beverages/drinks from various parts of your country or different countries.
• Try different local recipes (from the ones you’re used to making).
• You could adopt festive traditions from different countries. Here are a some examples: a) Stolen from Germany (a bread type with dried fruits, nuts and icing sugar), b) Brunsli from Switzerland (chocolate cookies with cinnamon and clover, covered with granulated sugar), c) Banketstaaf from the Netherlands (marzipan rolled up in dough and orange jam), d) Truchas de Navidad from the Canary islands (small crescent-shaped pastries filled with yams and almonds) etc.
• You could try an online search to find the recipes that suit you best in terms of taste and ingredients allowed.
• You can adopt festive customs from different nations. In Iceland, there is a special tradition called Jolabokaflod or “Christmas book flood” where families exchange their Christmas gifts at Christmas Eve. The gifts are books and the family members read them altogether while drinking hot cocoa.
Have a small celebration wearing your tracksuits or pajamas. Having comfortable clothes on will make you feel more relaxed.
• Take part in team events in your city or religious places (church service).
• Play board games (e.g. chess, backgammon).
• Sing happy songs, carols (especially in pediatric oncology), dance and do not hesitate to celebrate. Music is therapeutic. In a pediatric oncology ward in Milan, Italy, the patients created Christmas song that went viral. It was called ‘Christmas balls’ because of the tree decorations, snowballs and bald heads caused by chemotherapy.
• Humor is good for you! Look out for clever jokes and films. They will cheer you up.
• Read interesting books (as well as audio e-books).
• Watch concerts, theatrical plays (on TV) or visit museums (virtual tours are also available).
• Surprise yourself or your loved ones with a present after an online shopping spree. It is so much more
convenient since it can be delivered at your door.
• You should act and think in a way that will give more meaning to your life and encourage you to move forward. You could focus on: a) caring for the environment (e.g. planting a tree), b) increasing your creativity (e.g. making greeting cards through arts and crafts), c) volunteering – increasing your empathy (e.g. offering your advice to vulnerable social groups who need it).
Authors: Maria Tolia, Antonios Dakanalis, Davide Mauri, Konstantinos Kamposioras, Georgia Milaki, Maria Paraskeva, Dimitrios Matthaios, Nikolaos Charalampakis, Dimitrios Schizas, Nikolaos Tsoukalas, Antonios Varveris, Chrysostomos Antoniadis, Anastasia Fasoulaki, Areti Gkantaifi, Ioannis Kokakis, Dimitrios Mavroudis, Zenia Saridaki, Iliada Mpompolaki, Georgia Sfakiotaki, Georgios Chalkiadakis, Stylianos Kteniadakis, Konstantina Boniou, Georgios V. Koukourakis, Xenophon Vakalis, Eftychia Mosa, Nikolaos Vardakis, John Souglakos
Emmanouel Prokopakis, Alexandros Karatzanis, Ioannis Stoupis, Panteleimon Kountourakis, Konstantinos Lasithiotakis, Eelco de Bree, Anthoula Miliadou, Helen A. Papadaki, Eftychia Stiakaki, Andreas Koulouris, Georgios Kochiadakis, Kathi Apostolidis, Michael Nikolaou, Efrosyni Lyraraki, Stefanos Kachris, Panagiota Mavroeidi, Maria Fragkiadaki, Viktoria Katsouli, Anna Messaritaki, Evangelia Ezanidou, Georgia Argyriou, Aikaterini Tzouliadaki, Aikaterini Zydianaki, Vassiliki Sandalou, Antonios Vasilakis, Georgia Skoula, Theocharis Konstantinidis, Nektarios Papavasileiou, Pantelis Skarlos, George Kapetanakis, Maria Theodoridou.
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Written By Eftychia Tataridou, MD