Caregiving

Being a caregiver means you'll take on many roles at once. One of the most important is being your loved one's advocate.

Losing someone you care deeply about can be traumatic, and grief is a natural emotional response to the loss. It's a process that takes time to work through.

Whether you are a spouse, child, sibling, parent, or friend of a cancer patient, it is important that you never stop expressing your love. Showing how much you care is not only important on holidays and special occasions. It should be done every day of the year.

When your loved one has cancer, a time might come when it can no longer be controlled. In that case, your loved one will stop testing and treatment. The focus will turn to giving your loved one comfort and emotional support, and planning what comes next.

Talking with your family about cancer and the emotions that arise is not a one-time discussion, but rather a series of talks that will continue through your treatment.

Your first priority is giving your loved one a safe space to express their emotions. Let them be themselves and open up about all their feelings as they work through this scary, difficult time.

Taking care of a family member who is sick can be tough, especially when you also have to work. The good news is that there is a law called the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that can help caregivers.

It's difficult when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. But you can play a vital role in helping them get through treatment, no matter where they are in their journey.