This booklet provides practical tips on how family members and friends can look after their emotional and physical wellbeing and those of the person they are caring for. It covers common reactions experienced by people in caring roles and highlights ways to balance the demands of caring, family and work with personal needs. It illustrates ways to manage changes in relationships and where to go for information and support.
Our information is developed in consultation with experts who work in cancer care. This booklet can be ordered on its own or as part of our Carers Kit. This kit contains information from Centrelink and Carers Victoria, plus an overview of all the information and support services offered by Cancer Council Victoria.
If you have family members of friends with questions about supporting someone with cancer, please encourage them to call 13 11 20 and speak with an experienced and understanding cancer nurse.
Resources
Webinar
Part of our webinar series includes Looking after yourself: when supporting someone with cancer. We were fortunate to have the following diverse group of presenters on the panel
- Mr Hamish Park supported his father through cancer
- Dr Carrie Lethborg Social Worker with extensive experience supporting people with cancer and their families
- Dr Anna Ugalde Research Fellow, researches the best forms of supportive care for people with cancer and their carers
- Ms Caroline Mulcahy CEO of Carers Victoria, the peak agency providing advocacy and support for unpaid, mostly family carers.
“I listened expecting to learn about caring for my husband but instead cried all the way through realising it was to learn about caring for myself. The focus is always on my husband and I forget about me...”
- Response from a webinar participant
Watch webinar
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