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Facing Forward: When Someone You Love Has Completed Cancer Treatment
    Posted: 11/30/2005



Overview






Who Is a Caregiver?






Finding a "New Normal"






Shifting Your Focus Away from Treatment






Caring for Your Mind and Spirit






Caring for Your Body






Helping with Follow-up Medical Care






Talking with Your Family






Life Planning






Reflection






Caregiver's Bill of Rights






Resources






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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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