As a caregiver, you may worry about the person you're caring for, how the cancer
is affecting the patient's loved ones, and how well you will be able to balance
caring for the patient with the rest of your responsibilities.
Families and caregivers of people who have colorectal cancer should be educated
about the disease, possible
treatments, side effects,
and additional sources of support
in order to help the patient and themselves cope with the cancer.
The following are tools and tips for people caring for those with cancer:
Reading
There are a number of places where you can find information about colorectal cancer:
Treatments change and improve over time, so make sure what you're reading about
colorectal cancer is up to date. Also, not everything you read will apply to the
person you're caring for. Therefore, always discuss what you read or what you don't
understand with the patient's doctors or nurses.
Talking to your family
If you're caring for a family member with cancer, you know that cancer can change
family life in several ways. Family members may be concerned for the person in the
family who has cancer, and also for themselves. Typical family reactions include
the following:
- Stress or fear about the well being and health outcomes of the person with cancer
- Worry about medical bills
- Sadness or anger about disrupted family life
Getting informed about colorectal cancer and what to expect will help you to talk
other family members and ease their, as well as your own, fears and concerns.
Talking to other people
If the person you're caring for is a family member, sharing your concerns with people
outside the family can help you cope with your relative's colorectal cancer. Sometimes
it's easier to talk to people who aren't relatives about your fears and concerns,
especially if you think showing your fears could scare other family members even
more.
Here are some people you might consider talking to:
- Doctors or nurses
- Social workers from the hospital
- Support groups
- Mental health professionals
