Reflection
"If you find it in your heart
to care for somebody else,
you will have succeeded."
- Maya Angelou
The end of treatment often comes as a time to look forward to the future. New rituals and new
beginnings can bring a sense of relief and joy to caregivers and their loved ones. It can also be a
time of physical and emotional change. This is true not only for your loved one, but also for you as
a caregiver. During treatment, your focus was on the patient's needs. Now that treatment is over,
try to take time to get back in tune with yourself. Allow healing time for you, your loved one, and
your family. Try to plan what you and your loved one can do to begin living without cancer as a
main focus.
Whether good or bad, life-changing situations often give people the chance to grow, learn, and
appreciate what's important to them. Many people who care for their friends or family members
describe the experience as a personal journey. This is much like the way people with cancer
describe their experience. It's not necessarily a journey they would have chosen for themselves.
But they can use their skills, strength, and talents to support their loved ones while finding out
more about themselves along the way.
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