Caregiver Tips for Loved Ones with Cancer
As a caregiver, it can be emotionally overwhelming to watch your loved one go through the challenges of cancer. You want to do everything you can to support them, but you may not know where to start. In this article, we will provide you with practical tips and advice to prepare you for caring for a loved one with cancer.
What is Cancer ?
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. If left untreated, cancer can be fatal. Some of the common symptoms of cancer include weight loss, fatigue, pain, and changes in bowel or bladder habits. Cancer is diagnosed through imaging tests, biopsies, and laboratory tests. Treatment options for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.
What to Expect
When caring for a loved one with cancer, you can expect to encounter many challenges. These may include managing pain, administering treatments, providing physical support, dealing with changes in your loved one's appetite and sleep patterns, and helping them cope with emotional distress. Beyond taking care of your own well-being, you may need to make lifestyle adjustments, such as changing your work schedule or home environment to be able to handle the responsibilities of providing care.
Caregiver's Journey
Through nearly ten years of my mom’s illness—from cancer to leukemia to autoimmune disease—I just kept showing up. I didn’t always know what to do, but I knew I had to try. I flew back and forth, made calls, asked questions, and fought for her care because I loved her. It was overwhelming and heartbreaking, but I’m proud I was there—fully, fiercely, and with everything I had.
- Maureen B., HeroGeneration Community
In Their Shoes
Imagine waking up and feeling like your body is no longer your own. The pain might be sharp or dull, constant or creeping—settling in bones, pressing in your chest, tugging at your gut. Or maybe it’s the treatment that takes the heaviest toll—nausea that won’t lift, a fatigue so deep even sitting up feels monumental, a mouth so dry food turns to dust. Your skin might be tender, your limbs weak, your nerves on fire from the inside. You brace for the side effects you’ve come to expect, and dread the ones no one warned you about. Some days, you don’t recognize your reflection—thinner, paler, changed. Your body carries both the illness and the fight, and it’s exhausting. But within that fragility lives a fierce will to hold on—to comfort, to connection, to a moment of relief. What matters most is being treated gently, with slowness and care. Because this body may be sick, but it’s still yours. Still sacred. Still carrying you through.
Setting Goals
As a caregiver, it's crucial to set realistic goals for your loved one and yourself. These may include managing daily tasks, maintaining relationships, and finding ways to cope with stress and anxiety. To achieve these goals, break them down into smaller, manageable steps. Prioritize self-care activities, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with friends.
High Level Plan
Here is a high-level plan for caregivers:
- Assess your loved one's needs and create a care plan: Start by understanding their diagnosis, treatment schedule, side effects, and emotional needs. For cancer patients, care plans often need to accommodate medical appointments, potential complications from chemotherapy or radiation, and changes in physical stamina or nutrition.
- Set realistic goals and prioritize them: Help your loved one focus on achievable short-term and long-term goals that support their well-being. With cancer, goals may vary greatly depending on the stage of illness—ranging from completing treatment milestones to managing pain or preparing for palliative care.
- Manage daily tasks and maintain relationships: Assist with household duties, meal preparation, and errands while staying connected emotionally. Cancer treatment can be exhausting and isolating, so preserving a sense of normalcy and fostering meaningful social interaction—even in small ways—can greatly improve their outlook.
- Find ways to cope with stress and anxiety: Recognize the emotional weight of caregiving and seek healthy outlets for your feelings. Make time to rest, eat well, and do things that replenish your energy. Cancer caregiving can be physically and emotionally draining, and sustaining your own health ensures you can be present and effective for your loved one over the long term.
TIP: Cancer care is often a cycle of treatment, side effects, scans, waiting. Prepare to build endurance. You've got this.
Online Resources for Caregivers
Navigating the caregiving journey can be challenging, but numerous online resources offer support. Some of these resources include:
- American Cancer Society: Provides information on cancer treatment options, clinical trials, and patient support services.
- CancerCare: Offers free counseling, education, and financial assistance for people with cancer and their caregivers.
- Join the community at HeroGeneration for free and get access to more support!
