Emotions

I was asked to see a patient with some gastro problems, just to do some basic maintainence exercise and keeping the patient mobile. Prior to seeing this patient i had read up on all the notes and medical tests and realised the patient has liver problems. Now, it was only a few days ago that my mum told me that my auntie in Hong Kong has recently been diagnosed with liver cancer. I did feel a little uncomfortable seeing this patient. Upon entering this 'white carded' room, i saw this patient lying in bed asleep, jaudice (+++) and abdominal distention (+++). The patient slowly woke up and patient's eyes were bright yellow. The patient's appearance was quite confronting. Here in the back of my mind i kept thinking, "is that what my aunty looks like?" I've checked all the obs and done a quick assessment and asked the patient to SOEB. The movement was slow and the patient was already fatigued. The patient was very sick. I managed to get the patient in standing and a couple of steps with a WZF and some basic exercises. But the patient fatigued very quickly and needed frequent rests. I felt emotional in treating the patient, trying to envisage what my aunty looks like (with her condition) at the same time. (Is she jaundice, abdo distended?...the list goes on). I continued to treat the patient for the next 3 weeks. I guess my question is, how can you detach personal emotions away from your treatment? It does effect your treatment. I think in the future i just need to remind myself of the reasons why i am seeing the patient (to maintain their mobility) and not to let personal matters affect you (easier said than done i think). If anything, i think even talk to someone about it. I wasn't comfortable in discussing the matter with my supervisor at the time.

Has anyone come across such issue? A patient having a similar condition to a family member of yours or maybe even yourself? How did you deal with it?