Are you a caregiver for a cancer patient? Are you a cancer patient? Do you work with cancer patients? If so, the Practical Caregiver is the answer for caregiver education. Why?
I started the Practical Caregiver concept because I want people to know we can do a better job of supporting and educating caregivers. Does that matter for cancer patients? You bet it does. The more a caregiver understands the complexities of cancer care, the more easily he or she can address the REAL needs of a cancer patient.
Cancer and its treatment affect your loved one's:
1. appetite
2. diet
3. immune system
4. personality
5. energy level
6. life plans
Is the Practical Caregiver providing medical advice? Absolutely not. That's why we have doctors, nurses, nutritionists and others working on cancer treatment.
The Practical Caregiver provides education to cancer caregivers, to help you understand your loved one's experience better and to help you cope with the stress of being a cancer caregiver. It's available to any and all caregivers, regardless of what medical facility is treating their loved one.
Did you know that very often cancer patients are in need of different types of caregiving? Starting out treatment for cancer in the early stages is very different than catching it in a later stage. You will have to adapt your care and your own life to fit the specific needs of your loved one. Can you do this on your own?
Many times cancer treatment becomes a "serial" issue. Your loved one may have recurrences. These days, things have changed on the cancer treatment front. The disease is managed over years in many cases. As a caregiver, you will have to step up, step back, step up, and step back over and over again. When your loved one is feeling good, you won't need to provide as much care, if any. When your loved one needs your help, it's important for you to be there. That means planning for the future in reasonable, sensible ways. Expect to provide care, build your resources list, find out what you can use -- being prepared is important.
Cancer can also, in its later stages, be a progressive disease, so it's important to understand the issues in coping with a terminal illness. You, as a cancer caregiver, want to make your loved one as comfortable and active as possible. Life is about living, not about dying. We all die, without much choice in the matter. We can and we should choose how we live. Make it worthwhile.
What's the biggest issue for cancer patients and caregivers? Managing the fear of the disease. Cancer is the big black cloud hanging over a loved one's head. How do you comfort someone with cancer? How do you help him or her manage the fear better? Fear creates stress and stress takes it toll on everyone.
The Practical Caregiver's mission is to reduce cancer caregiver stress. I believe the better I can help you to understand what your loved one is facing, I can provide to you the tools to do a better job. And if you do a better job as a cancer caregiver, your loved one is likely to have a better, happier, healthier life. That's a win-win, isn't it?
So, cancer caregivers, use the Practical Caregiver's free education. Take advantage of the advice. Believe that what you do for your loved one makes a difference. When you care about more than just the cancer, life becomes fuller, richer, and worth living. Be inspired.
If you would like more help with cancer caregiving, check out:
The Practical Caregiver Guides
For help organizing the holiday caregiving (and who doesn't), check out my new book at Smashwords, available for download:
The Practical Caregiver's Rules for Happy Holidays
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