Breast Cancer: From the Eyes of a Caregiver
The fact that they all made themselves so accessible to me helped a lot.
They would answer any question I had — and I asked a lot of questions. We were both in the delivery room when our first daughter, Genevieve, was born. So it was quite a surprise when Aly sat me down nine months later and presented me with a Bible verse. The quote was Psalm I could hardly believe what she was telling me, but Aly was pregnant. We said we would, and Lydia was born 11 days after Vera.
Just knowing Aly was still alive to be my wife, seeing her give birth to our second daughter, and getting to be her husband as she fought for her life left me feeling profoundly grateful. And seeing my wife healed and whole now — both as a mom and as my wife— gives me a dose of perspective every day. Because being with her and our girls today is enough. Tomorrow will bring a plan to deal with the rest. Haley Burress Haley Burress is a freelance writer specializing in active adult, senior health care, parenting, Christian, and educational literature.
Haley loves giving parents realistic ideas on how to connect with their kids, without connecting to a tablet or Pinterest. She has over 14 years experience working with seniors in all levels of care, and has two books in contract with publishing houses that specialize in health care rescources for professionals who work with seniors. She has presented in local and national conferences for caregivers and health care professionals, speaking on topics from training staff to spiritual care. She has recently started writing curriculum and texts for educational resources to meet Common Core requirements.
Haley writes with a friendly and approachable voice, but can be technical as the audience requires it. She lives in Chicagoland with her very handsome husband and her very awesome 4 year old son. She enjoys yoga, reading and brownies, preferrably all at the same time. Joining a support group gives your loved one a chance to talk with others coping with cancer or caregiving and learn what they do to manage difficult emotions.
Sometimes, support groups are led by social workers or counselors.
Caregiving for Your Loved One With Cancer
Ask a hospital social worker for a referral, or contact Cancer Care. We offer face-to-face, telephone, and online support groups for people with cancer. This can be an emotional time for many people. Despite being relieved that the cancer is in remission stopped growing or disappeared , you and your loved one may feel scared that it will return. The end of treatment also means fewer meetings with the health care team, on which you and your loved one may have relied for support. You may also have questions about how treatment ending impacts your role as a caregiver, so getting support during this transition can be helpful.
- Caregiver of breast cancer survivor: ‘The fight is worth it’ | MD Anderson Cancer Center.
- Caring for a Loved One with Stage 4 Breast Cancer.
- Les Mystères de Paris (Intégrale, Volumes 1 à 10) (French Edition)?
Recommend an oncology social worker or counselor specially trained to offer advice. If you think your loved one may need additional support coping with his or her emotions during this time, suggest speaking with a professional who can help, such as an oncology social worker.
Caregiver Exposure to Chemotherapy | OncoLink
In addition to helping with medical and emotional concerns, caregivers often help by taking on many practical tasks. Some day-to-day activities caregivers can do include running errands, pitching in with household chores, preparing meals and helping with child care. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help. Case managers work for insurance or other types of agencies. They help clients gain access to resources and services. He or she can also help explain any out-of-network benefits the policy may offer, such as medical services from doctors not on your insurance plan.
Understand what your loved one is entitled to. Some types of aid for people with cancer are required by law. These programs are called entitlements—government programs that give financial and other aid to people in certain groups such as those with cancer. A hospital or community social worker can direct you to the governmental agencies that oversee these programs.
He or she can help work out a monthly payment plan. If your loved one expects to run out of money, or has already, talk to his or her creditors. Many landlords, utilities and mortgage companies are willing to work out a payment plan before a crisis develops. Reaching out for help early on is most helpful. Apply for financial help. For many people, expensive cancer medicines pose a financial challenge.
Possible changes in consciousness
Fortunately, there are many programs to help qualified individuals get medications for free or at a low cost. For more information, contact the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, listed among the resources. Cancer Care also provides financial help. We provide limited grants for cancer-related costs such as transportation and child care. We also provide referrals to other organizations that can provide assistance.
Call us at HOPE to learn more. Taking care of a loved one can be a positive experience. For example, some people say that caregiving strengthened their relationship. But it can also be very stressful. Many caregivers say it often feels like a full-time job. Caregiving can be even more challenging if you have many other responsibilities, like working, raising children, or caring for your own health.
Sometimes, caregivers tend to put their own needs and feelings aside. It is important, though, for you to take good care of yourself. This will make the experience less stressful for you. Caregivers spend a lot of time looking after the health of their loved ones. This often means that the caregiver spends less time focusing on his or her own needs, such as eating well and exercising. Yet taking care of your own physical health is an important part of caregiving. Experts recommend exercising for at least 30 minutes each day. Activities can include walking quickly, jogging, or riding a bike.