Caregivers

Coping with Being a Cancer Caregiver

There are different types of caregivers for people with cancer. Some are family members, while others are friends. People of different races and cultures give care to others in their own way. Every situation is different and there isn’t one way that works best. Giving care and support during this time can be a challenge. Many caregivers put their own needs and feelings aside to focus on the person with cancer. This can be hard to maintain for a long time, and it’s not good for your health. The stress can have both physical and psychological effects. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of others. It’s important for everyone that you give care to you.

Changing Roles

Whether you’re younger or older, you may find yourself in a new role as a caregiver. You may have been an active part of someone’s life before, but perhaps now that they’re a cancer patient, the way you support them is different. It may be in a way in which you haven’t had much experience, or in a way that feels more intense than before.

Even though caregiving may feel new to you now, many caregivers say that they learn more as they go through their loved one’s cancer experience. Common situations that they describe are below.

Their loved one only feels comfortable with a spouse or partner taking care of them.
Caregivers with children struggle to take care of a parent too.
Parents may have a hard time accepting help from their adult children.
Caregivers find it hard to balance taking care of a loved one with job responsibilities.
Adult children with cancer may not want to rely on their parents for care.
Caregivers may have health problems themselves, making it physically and emotionally hard to take care of someone else.

Ask for Help

Many caregivers say that, looking back, they took too much on themselves. Or they wish they had asked for help from friends or family sooner. Take an honest look at what you can and can’t do. What things do you need or want to do yourself? What tasks can you turn over or share with people? Be willing to let go of things that others can help you do. Some examples may be:

Accepting help from others isn’t always easy. But remember that getting help for yourself can also help your loved one—you may stay healthier, your loved one may feel less guilty about all the things that you’re doing, some of your helpers may offer useful skills and have extra time to give you.

Caregivers

Coping with Being a Cancer Caregiver

Changing Roles

Ask for Help

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