11 Steps for Choosing Your Cancer Treatment

After your cancer diagnosis, your primary care physician will begin discussing your cancer treatment plan with you and your family.  At SERO, we specialize in radiation therapy, a localized, highly effective treatment for many types of cancer. However, your doctor may suggest other treatment options in addition to or outside of radiation. There will likely be many treatment options available, and making a decision may feel overwhelming. Understanding what that decision-making process will look like is a good place to start.

Jump to Section:

• What is a Cancer Caregiver?
• Who Can Be a Cancer Caregiver?
• What Makes a Good Cancer Caregiver?
• What Do Cancer Caregivers Do?
• How to Cope With Being a Cancer Caregiver

What Is a Cancer Caregiver?

In addition to taking X-rays, doctors use radiation therapy to try to cure cancer

A cancer caregiver is someone who provides support to another person living with cancer. Importantly, caregiving is an unpaid role. Typically, someone offers caregiving out of love for the person with cancer.

Patients often benefit from having a close loved one help instead of or in addition to a paid care provider. The person with cancer may feel more comfortable sharing vulnerable emotions and personal experiences with someone they know and trust. Caregivers often take comfort from the role, as they can tangibly display their love and compassion for the person living with cancer.

In the United States, an estimated 2.8 million to 6.1 million adults care for patients with cancer. Caregiving is time-consuming, with the average caregiver providing 32.9 hours of care each week. Because many caregivers are working adults, they may need to change their work schedules to accommodate the care activities.

Who Can Be a Cancer Caregiver?

Anyone can serve as a cancer caregiver. Because caregiving is an unpaid role, it depends on who is willing and able to provide care to someone with cancer. This role is often filled by a spouse or partner, sibling, parent, or child. In some cases, when a person does not have a family member able to serve as a caregiver, a friend or other loved one may provide cancer care.

It is also important to note that some people may have multiple people serving a caregiving role. For individuals with a strong social support system, several loved ones may chip in to provide support. Often, it is helpful for each person to have a defined role (e.g., physical caregiving, coordinating appointments, or preparing meals) to ensure good communication. Loved ones who live farther away can also be helpful long-distance caregivers by offering emotional support or coordinating on-site services.

It is also important to note that some people may have multiple people serving a caregiving role. For individuals with a strong social support system, several loved ones may chip in to provide support. Often, it is helpful for each person to have a defined role (e.g., physical caregiving, coordinating appointments, or preparing meals) to ensure good communication. Loved ones who live farther away can also be helpful long-distance caregivers by offering emotional support or coordinating on-site services.

What Makes a Good Cancer Caregiver?

Caregiving makes an enormous impact on a person’s experience of living with cancer. Caregivers can have a powerful positive impact on a patient’s quality of life. Consider the following qualities those of a good cancer caregiver:

Good Communicator — Communication is key for caregivers. There are a lot of people involved in a patient’s care, including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, counselors, social workers, and friends and family members. Developing good communication skills prevents errors from being made. It’s also key in ensuring that the patient’s wishes are heard and advocated for.

Organized — Caregiving requires strong organizational abilities. A caregiver may need to coordinate many aspects of a person’s life to allow him or her to focus on fighting cancer. Making lists, keeping a calendar with important appointments, and delegating tasks are helpful strategies to stay organized.

“Cancer is unpredictable. As much as a good routine helps a patient stay on track, it’s important to be flexible. Having an upbeat, flexible approach makes things much easier for the patient to navigate.”

Dr. Hadley J. Sharp, MD

Can Make Decisions — Often, a person with cancer feels physically sick and emotionally overwhelmed. This can make it hard to make decisions. Unfortunately, there are dozens of decisions that come up when someone is fighting cancer. You may need to help the patient decide whether to pursue a particular treatment, advocate for another scan, or seek a second opinion. Knowing how to help someone walk through the pros and cons is helpful. You may also need to be prepared to make difficult decisions at an end-of-life situation or if the patient becomes unable to express their wishes.

Flexible — Cancer is unpredictable. As much as a good routine helps a patient stay on track, it’s important to be flexible. Caregivers are good at preparing for setbacks, new symptoms, and changes in treatment plans. Having an upbeat, flexible approach makes things much easier for the patient to navigate.

Dependable — Someone dealing with cancer needs to know who they can rely on for help. Being dependable and trustworthy ensures that the patient knows you will show up when needed.

What Do Cancer Caregivers Do?

A good caregiver knows everything that is going on with a patient medically, emotionally, and logistically. This allows the caregiver to help the patient focus on his or her well-being.

A caregiver’s major responsibilities can be divided into the following categories:

• Supporting emotional well-being
• Supporting physical health
• Financial support
• Addressing legal needs

Again, one person may not do each of these tasks. Assembling a team of people who can help can make a big difference and prevent caregiver burnout. Following are examples of things that cancer caregivers often do for their loved one.

Emotional Wellbeing Support

Help the person with cancer live as normal a life as possible — A cancer diagnosis is life-altering, and the treatment journey is challenging. Try to find ways to keep life as normal as possible. Small pleasures like spending time with family, listening to music, or getting outdoors can make a big difference in quality of life.

Help the person share feelings — Dealing with cancer causes sadness, anger, depression, and desperation. Encouraging the person with cancer to find an emotional outlet can be healing. Identify when the person needs more support: As a caregiver, you have the best sense of how a patient is genuinely doing. Part of your role may be to identify when the person needs more help. This might be finding professional support like a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Help make treatment decisions — Making informed treatment decisions is mentally taxing. Since you may be present at appointments, you can help your loved one reason through the pros and cons of each option.

How To Cope With Being a Cancer Caregiver

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