CancerHelp®
When Someone You Love Is Being Treated for Cancer
When Someone You Love is Being Treated for Cancer is for friends or family members giving care to a person with cancer.
Being a caregiver to someone you care about may mean helping with daily activities such as going to doctor’s visits or preparing food. It can also be coordinating care and services or offering emotional support. But during this time, it’s important that caregivers take care of themselves, too.
This booklet covers:
- Understanding the changes that come in your life with caregiving
- How to cope with your feelings and ask for help
- Tips on caring for both your physical and emotional self
- How to talk with your kids about cancer
- Communicating with your loved one who has cancer
- Dealing with other family members and friends
This booklet is not about how to take care of a patient. Instead, it provides ways for a friend or family member to take care of themselves while caring for someone with cancer. It gives you communication and self-care tips to focus on your needs while helping your loved one too.
The information in this booklet was last updated in January 2012.