Who Is a Caregiver?
Your Feelings
Asking for Help
Caring for Yourself
Going With Your Loved One to Medical Visits
Talking With Others
Remember
Other Resources for Caregivers
Who Is a Caregiver?
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"You need to learn ways to take care of yourself. Because if you're not taking care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help." - Jane
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Are you helping a loved one get through cancer treatment?
If you are, then this booklet is for you. You are a "caregiver."
You may not think of yourself as a caregiver. You may feel
you are doing something natural. You are just caring for
someone you love. Some caregivers are family members.
Others are friends.
Giving care can mean helping with daily needs. These include
going to doctor visits, making meals, and picking up medicines.
It can also mean helping your loved one cope with feelings.
Like when he or she feels sad or angry. Sometimes having
someone to talk to is what your loved one needs most.
While giving care, it's normal to put your own needs and
feelings aside. But putting your needs aside for a long time
is not good for your health. You need to take care of yourself,
too. If you don't, you may not be able to care for others.
This is why you need to take good care of you.
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Your Feelings
It's common to feel stressed and overwhelmed at this time.
Like your loved one, you may feel angry, sad, or worried.
Try to share your feelings with others who can help you.
It can help to talk about how you feel. You could even talk to
a counselor or social worker.
You probably have many feelings as you take care of your
loved one. There is no right way for you to feel. Each person
is different.
The first step to understanding your feelings is to know that
they're normal. Give yourself some time to think through
them. Some feelings that may come and go are:
- Sadness. It's okay to feel sad. But if it lasts for more than
2 weeks, and it keeps you from doing what you need to do,
you may be depressed.
- Anger. You may be angry at yourself or family members.
You may be angry at the person you're caring for. Or you
may be angry that your loved one has cancer. Sometimes
anger comes from fear, panic, or stress.
If you are angry, try to think of what makes you feel this
way. Knowing the cause may help.
- Grief. You may be feeling a loss of what you value most.
This may be your loved one's health. Or it may be the loss
of the day-to-day life you had before the cancer was found.
Let yourself grieve these losses.
- Guilt. Feeling guilty is common, too. You may think you
aren't helping enough. Or you may feel guilty that you
are healthy.
- Loneliness. You can feel lonely, even with lots of people
around you. You may feel that no one understands your
problems. You may also be spending less time with others.
Talk with someone if your feelings get in the way of daily life.
Maybe you have a family member, friend, priest, pastor, or
spiritual leader to talk to. Your doctor may also be able to help.
Here are some other things that may help you:
- Know that we all make mistakes whenever we have a lot on
our minds. No one is perfect.
- Cry or express your feelings. You don't have to pretend to
be cheerful. It's okay to show that you are sad or upset.
- Focus on things that are worth your time and energy. Let
small things go for now. For example, don't fold clothes if
you are tired.
- Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can.
- Spend time alone to think about your feelings.
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Asking for Help
Many people who were once caregivers say they did too much
on their own. Some wished that they had asked for help
sooner. Be honest about what you can do. Think about tasks
you can give to others. And let go of tasks that aren't so
important at this time.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Remember, if you get help
for yourself:
- You may stay healthier and have more energy.
- Your loved one may feel less guilty about your help.
- Other helpers may offer time and skills that you don't have.
People may want to help you but don't know what you need.
Here are some things you can ask them to do:
- Help with tasks such as:
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Shopping
- Yard Work
- Childcare
- Eldercare
- Talk with you and share your feelings.
- Help with driving errands such as:
- Doctor visits
- Picking up your child
- Find information you need.
- Tell others how your loved one is doing.
Some people may not be able to help. There could be one or
more reasons such as:
- They may be coping with their own problems.
- They may not have time right now.
- They may not know how to help.
- They may feel uneasy around people who are sick.
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Caring for Yourself
Taking time for yourself can help you be a better caregiver.
That's even more true if you have health problems.
You may want to:
- Find nice things you can do for yourself. Even just a few
minutes can help. You could watch TV, call a friend, work
on a hobby, or do anything that you enjoy.
- Be active. Even light exercise such as walking, stretching, or
dancing can make you less tired. Yard work, playing with
kids or pets, or working in the garden are helpful, too.
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Find ways to connect with friends. Are there places you can
meet others who are close to you? Or can you chat or get
support by phone or email?
- Give yourself more time off.
Ask friends or family
members to pitch in. Take
time to rest.
Do something for yourself each
day. It doesn't matter how small
it is.Whatever you do, don't
neglect yourself.
In a support group for caregivers, people may talk about
their feelings and trade advice. Others may just want to
listen. You can talk things over with other caregivers. This
could give you some ideas for coping. It may also help you
know you aren't alone.
In many cities, support groups are held in other languages
besides English. There are also groups that meet over the
Internet. Ask a nurse or a social worker to help you find a
support group that meets your needs.
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You may feel too busy to think about your own health. But
taking care of your body gives you strength. Then you can take
care of someone else.
Keep up with your own health needs. Try to:
- Go to all your checkups
- Take your medicines
- Eat healthy meals
- Get enough rest
- Exercise
- Make time to relax
Did you have health problems before you became a caregiver?
If so, now it's even more important to take care of yourself.
Also, adding extra stressors to your life can cause new health
problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice any new
changes in your body.
Cancer causes many caregivers to look at life in new ways.
They think about the purpose of life. And they often focus on
what they value most.
You and your loved one may question why cancer has come
into your lives. You may long for things to be like they were
before the disease. But you may also see good things that come
out of it, such as it bringing you closer. It's normal to see illness
in both good and bad ways.
Cancer can affect one's faith in different ways. Some people
turn toward their beliefs. Others turn away from them. It is
common to question your faith during this time. For some,
looking for meaning is a way to cope.
Some ways to find meaning are:
- Read or listen to uplifting materials.
- Pray or meditate.
- Talk with a priest, pastor, or spiritual leader.
- Go to religious or spiritual services.
- Talk to other caregivers.
- Look at books or brochures for people dealing with cancer. Ask for them at your place of worship. Also, check at
libraries for these materials.
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Going With Your Loved One to Medical Visits
Your loved one may ask you to come to doctor visits. This may
be a key role for you. Here are some tips for going to the doctor:
- Know how to get there. Give yourself enough time.
- Write down questions you need to ask. Also write down things you want to tell the doctor.
- Keep a folder of your loved one's health information. Bring this folder to each visit.
- Bring all the medicine bottles with you, or keep a list of the names and doses. Bring this list to each visit.
Sometimes, people have trouble with medical visits. They don't
understand what the doctor says. Or they forget things. Here
are some tips for talking with the health care provider:
- If you don't understand an answer, ask the question in a different way.
- If you need to know more, ask.
- Let your doctor or nurse know what your worries are.
- Before you leave the visit, make sure you know what the next steps are for your loved one's care.
- Take notes. Or ask if you can tape-record the visit.
- Let the doctor know if your loved one has had changes or new symptoms.
- What health records should we bring?
- How can we prepare for treatment?
- How long will the treatment take?
- Can he or she go to and from treatment alone?
- How can I help my loved one feel better during treatment?
- Can I be there during treatment?
- What are the side effects of the treatment?
- After treatment, what do we need to watch for? When should we call you?
- How do we file for insurance? Who can help us with insurance?
Many caregivers say that they are afraid to ask about pain. They
worry that it means the cancer is getting worse. Or some think
that pain is normal, and their loved one just has to accept it.
This is not true. People who have their pain managed can focus
on healing. They can enjoy life more.
The doctor should continue to ask about pain and other side
effects. But it's up to you and your loved one to be sure that
the doctor knows about any pain your loved one feels. Pain
can be managed during treatment. The key is to talk about
pain and other symptoms at each visit. Your loved one does not
have to suffer.
Don't be afraid to ask for stronger pain medicine. Sometimes
larger doses help. These drugs rarely cause people with cancer
to get addicted. Instead, they can help your loved one feel better.
He or she will be able to focus on day-to-day things instead of
being in pain.
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Talking With Others
Nearly all caregivers and their partners feel more stress than
usual in their relationship. They must deal with many decisions
and changes. Some couples find that their bonds get stronger
during cancer treatment. Others find they get weaker.
Try to be open about your stress and its causes. You may want to:
- Talk about how each of you feels:
- Share how you are each coping.
- Look at things that are causing you both stress.
- Talk about choices you can make together.
- Try to be grateful for each other.
- Make time to focus on things besides cancer.
- Talk with your partner if you find that your sex life is
different than it used to be. There can be many causes:
- You or your partner is tired.
- Your relationship feels strained.
- If your partner is the patient:
- Either of you may not feel good about how your partner looks.
- You may be afraid you will hurt your partner.
- The treatment might be affecting your partner's ability to perform. He or she may be in pain or depressed.
You can still be close as a couple in spite of these issues. Staying
close is also about sharing feelings and understanding. You can:
- Talk about closeness and your sex life.
- Talk about your hopes for the future.
- Try not to judge each other.
- Protect your time together.
- Be patient and take things slowly.
- Talk to a counselor or your support group.
Did your family have problems before cancer? These problems
are likely to be more intense now. This is true if you are caring
for a spouse, child, or parent. Your new role as a caregiver may
cause feelings you didn't expect.
Talk with the people close to you. Try to be open and caring.
Ask a counselor to hold a family meeting if needed. During
stressful times, ask someone else to update others about how
your loved one is doing.
Sometimes people offer help you don't need. Thank them for their
concern. Tell them you'll let them know if you need anything.
Some people may offer unwanted advice. They may do this
because they don't know what else to say. It's up to you to
decide how to deal with this. You don't have to respond at all.
Otherwise, thank them and let it go. Tell them you are taking
steps to help your family.
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Children start to understand the world around them at a very
young age. It is important to be honest with them. They need to
know the truth about your loved one. Otherwise, they will think
the worst. Let them know how you feel, too.
Some tips for talking with kids:
- Tell them about cancer. Let them know that there is
nothing they did to cause cancer. And they can't catch it
from someone else.
- Let them know their feelings are okay. Tell them you
understand if they are upset, angry, sad, or scared.
Remind them that no matter what happens, you will
always love them.
- Tell them the truth with love and hope. Let them know
that your loved one is getting good care and that you hope
he or she will get well again. But don't try to promise them
a good outcome if you aren't sure of one.
- Listen to them. Ask them how they feel and what they are
worried about. If they're young, ask them to draw a picture
or play with dolls to show you how they feel.
- Stay involved. You may be with your loved one who is sick
more often right now. Try to spend time with your kids in
any way you can. Take them to the store with you or eat
meals with them. Ask them about their day. Leave them
notes or call them when you can.
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Remember
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"If there's one thing that's
come out of taking care of
someone, it's that I've
learned what's important
really fast. And that's a
lesson that I'll carry with
me forever." - Jenny
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As a caregiver, try to remember to:
- Strike a balance each day.
- Focus on your needs, too.
- Care for yourself while caring for your loved one.
- Make time for resting and relaxing.
Life-changing events often give people the chance to grow.
They may help people see what's most important to them.
Many say that caring for someone with cancer changed them
forever. They used their strengths to support their loved one.
And they learned more about themselves along the way.
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Other Resources for Caregivers
American Cancer Society |
Cancer information and support for cancer issues |
Phone:
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1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)
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Web site:
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www.cancer.org
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CancerCare |
Free support, information, and financial assistance |
Phone:
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1-800-813-HOPE (1-800-813-4673)
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Web site:
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www.cancercare.org
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Family Caregiver Alliance |
Support for families and friends who are caregivers |
Phone:
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1-800-445-8106
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Web site:
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www.caregiver.org
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National Family Caregivers Association |
Information, education, and support for caregivers |
Phone:
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1-800-896-3650
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Web site:
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www.nfcacares.org
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