As a caregiver, you influence how a patient deals with their illness. Your support helps patients manage treatment plans and focus on recovery through proper nutrition and rest.

Caregivers are often responsible for keeping track of prescriptions, planning for upcoming tests and keeping doctors aware of any issues. Caregivers may also help loved ones with daily activities such as driving to appointments, picking up medicines, cooking meals or doing chores.

Recursos útiles para cuidadores:

• Manejar los medicamentos
• Cuidar la salud física, mental y emocional de los seres queridos
• Comunicarse con el equipo de atención médica
• Tratar los asuntos legales y financieros.

When facing a cancer diagnosis, understanding and navigating the health care system can be challenging. Find helpful resources for navigating health insurance coverage so you can focus on what matters most.

Recomendaciones de American Cancer Society’s online interactive guide puede ayudar a los cuidadores a responder las grandes preguntas para que puedan comprender lo que está experimentando su ser querido.

Additional Resources

• Being a Cancer Caregiver
• What you Should Know About Becoming a Cancer Caregiver
• Support for Caregivers of Cancer Patients
• Cómo ser amigo de alguien con cáncer
• Caregiver Support Video Series

The American Cancer Society offers several resources for families supporting a pediatric cancer child. Resources address difficult topics like coping with the news of a diagnosis, helping siblings adjust to a new environment and navigating the health care system when caring for a child.

Los recursos están disponibles a continuación:

• Si a su niño le diagnostican cáncer
• Cuando su niño tiene cáncer
• Cuando su niño está pasando por un tratamiento contra el cáncer
• Cómo revisar el sistema de atención médica cuando su niño tiene cáncer
• Cómo ayudar a los hermanos de los niños diagnosticados con cáncer
• Cuando el tratamiento de su niño termina

Many cancer patients need help talking with their care providers due to age or illness. In these cases, the caregiver steps in to help by listening, asking questions, and updating the team on how the patient is doing.

Here are some simple steps caregivers can take to have these vital conversations effectively:

• Maintain notes of your appointments from the beginning. Treatment can be overwhelming, so keeping a record of what you’ve been told can help eliminate miscommunication and keep you focused.
• Ask questions. It’s the health care team’s job to help patients and loved ones understand the condition, its treatment and potential side effects.
• Don’t expect yourself to remember every question you have for the doctor. Write down questions and bring them to the appointments.
• Take notes during the appointment. It will be easier to reference these notes if you forget some of the details or your family asks questions.

Stress from this demanding role can cause health problems, including insomnia, appetite changes and feelings of anxiety, depression, or loneliness. You are not alone. About half of all caregivers don’t get enough continuous sleep, making them feel tired and leading to poor quality of life. You must take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Visit Healthier You for ways to care for yourself during this difficult time.

• Arrange respite care: Feeling overwhelmed? Respite care is temporary care for a person who cannot care for themselves and allows the person’s usual caregivers to have a break. Ask your loved one’s health care team about community resources if you have difficulty finding respite care.
• Reach out for emotional support: If your loved one is facing a cancer diagnosis, connecting with others can provide support and comfort. Contact family members, friends, those who share your faith or a support group. 
• Stay active: Regular physical activity can lower your risk for depression.
• Research your options: Many caregivers provide financial support, reduce work hours or even quit their jobs to care for their loved ones. Resources are listed below that may assist you.

La transición para dejar el papel de cuidador puede ser un proceso gradual. Hable con su ser querido sobre lo que necesita y cómo puede ayudarlo. Si su ser querido puede asumir un papel más independiente, bríndele apoyo y anímelo a que lo haga. Mantenga abiertas las líneas de comunicación.

Una vez finalizado el tratamiento contra el cáncer, existen muchas maneras de apoyar a su ser querido durante la supervivencia. Por ejemplo, puedes:

• Aprender los posibles efectos secundarios tardíos del tratamiento y esté atento a ellos.
• Join them during follow-up appointments and offer emotional support.
• Ayúdelos a recopilar registros médicos durante la transición de regreso a su médico de atención primaria y dejando el equipo de oncología.
• Cree un plan de atención de supervivencia con los miembros del equipo de atención médica y su ser querido. El plan debería incluir:
  • Summary of diagnosis and treatment
  • Responsibilities of all members of the health care team
  • Plan for follow-up care
  • A screening and testing schedule
  • Side-effect management plan