Caring for someone

Monday 14 March, 2005

When Cancer Won't Go Away - Carer's BookletInformation currently under review

A carer is anyone, whether family or friend, who is helping to look after someone with cancer.

Caring for someone with cancer can be very stressful, particularly when it is someone you care about very much. The person with cancer may be experiencing distressing emotions about their cancer diagnosis, side effects from treatment and mood changes from the effects of drugs.

Look after yourself during this time. Give yourself some time out, enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend, and share your worries and concerns with someone not involved. Make a list of 10 things you like to do and make sure that you do one enjoyable thing each day.

You may have to make many decisions. You will probably have to attend many appointments with doctors, support services and hospitals. Many people have found it helpful to take with them another member of the family or a close friend. It also helps to write down questions before you go, and to take notes during the appointment. 

Support for carers

Cancer support groups are usually open to patients and carers. A support group can offer the chance to share experiences and ways of coping. There's a range of support services such as home help, meals on wheels and visiting nurses that can help you cope with treatment at home. These are provided by local councils, the Royal District Nursing Service and the palliative care services. As well, there are organisations and groups that can provide you with information and support, including Carers Connect who can connect you with someone who has had a similar experience. The Cancer Council Helpline can tell you about these services. Phone 13 11 20.

Are you caring for someone with cancer that can't be cured?

Health professionals use several different names to describe cancer that has advanced beyond early stages, including advanced, secondary, metastatic and progressive cancer. Sometimes, health professionals don't use a special name. In this information, we use the term 'advanced cancer'.

However anyone refers to it, life-threatening illness is an extremely difficult and stressful event for everybody involved. We particularly want to acknowledge the difficulties for you, the carer.

A carer is someone who provides physical and emotional support to someone who is ill or disabled. You might be the partner (husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend), son, daughter, relative, friend or neighbour of a person with cancer. Some people don't see themselves as 'carers': what they do is part of the relationship they share with a person with cancer.

We hope that you find the links above helpful: this information was produced with the help and advice of health professionals and people who have cared for someone with advanced cancer.