Life After Cancer: Continuing To Be a Caregiver
Life After Cancer: Continuing To Be a Caregiver
Being a caregiver for a cancer survivor can be challenging. You may find that the issues are different from those during treatment. But cancer survivors can still have ongoing physical and emotional issues after treatment ends. You may also have your own struggles in giving care while also caring for yourself.
Understanding cancer survivorship
After your loved one finishes cancer treatment and is in remission from cancer, he or she still faces challenges. Some side effects of treatment can last for a while. Some may happen weeks or even months after treatment. Your family member or friend may have job and financial worries. And it can be hard to go back to a “normal” life after cancer. It often takes longer than expected. He or she will also likely be concerned about the risk for long-lasting side effects or the cancer coming back.
Cancer treatment after-effects
Even though the cancer is gone doesn’t mean that your loved one feels fine now. Cancer and its treatments are very hard on the body. Cancer survivors often have after-effects that can last for months or even years. Organs may have been removed or damaged by treatment. Their body may not work the same ways as it did before. The medicines used can cause effects long after a person stops taking them. After cancer, your family member or friend may have issues such as:
Tiredness (fatigue)
Pain
Nerve damage (neuropathy)
Swelling of the lymph nodes (lymphedema)
Mouth problems
Trouble sleeping
Weight gain or loss
Changes in sexual health and fertility
Thinking (cognitive) changes
Emotional issues such as depression or anxiety
Talk with your loved one’s healthcare team to find out what kinds of treatment after-effects to expect. Ask the healthcare team:
What can be done to help prevent problems
How you can help ease symptoms
What kinds of problems to keep watch for
When to call the healthcare team
What is a cancer survivorship care plan (SCP)?
A survivorship care plan is a special document to help a person move forward after cancer treatment. Several medical groups advise that healthcare providers should put together an SCP for their cancer patients. The care plan is a personal record of cancer treatment history and information to help after cancer treatment. Ask the healthcare team if they can put together an SCP for your loved one.
Ways you can still help
Your loved one’s needs may change over time. But you may still find that your family member or friend needs different kinds of support.
You can give practical support in some of these ways:
Cleaning and doing laundry
Doing grocery shopping and other errands
Making meals
Tending pets
Helping with bathing, dressing, and using the toilet
Filling prescriptions and keeping track of medicines
Driving
Arranging medical appointments
Going along to medical appointments
Keeping in contact with the healthcare team in case of problems
Filing and following up on health insurance claims and medical bills
Helping him or her make healthcare decisions
Communicate with his or her workplace
For physical health, you can help your loved one:
Walk or do physical therapy daily
Keep track of symptoms
Note any new or worse symptoms
Call the healthcare team if needed
For emotional health, you can help your loved one:
Keep watch for signs of depression and anxiety
Be in touch with family and friends
Find online or local support groups
Find a counselor or therapist
Contact his or her spiritual advisor
Financial concerns for you
Caregivers sometimes need to take unpaid time off work, or even quit their job. They often spend their own money on caregiving expenses. These issues can cause financial problems. Talk with your employer about the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and employee assistance programs. Ask the hospital and healthcare team for information about financial help.
Taking care of yourself
Helping someone recover from cancer is a stressful task. You may worry about your loved one’s physical and mental health. You may worry about financial issues. You may feel powerless to help in many ways. And you may be unsure exactly what your role is now. These kinds of worries cause stress and can lead to depression and anxiety. To keep yourself healthy, make sure to:
Eat a healthy diet
Get regular physical activity
Protect yourself from the sun
Keep your social life active
Get a flu shot every year
Don’t smoke
Limit alcohol
Get enough sleep
Get regular checkups and screening tests
Talk with your healthcare provider if you need help with any of these
Getting support
While you are a caregiver, you need support, too. Make sure to:
Contact the healthcare team if you feel unsure or stressed
Talk with a counselor or other therapist if you need
Get help from your family and friends
Also, ask the healthcare team:
How to get help from state or federal programs
What other community or hospital resources may help with caregiving
You can also connect with other caregivers and find support from organizations such as:
Updated:  
October 16, 2017
Reviewed By:  
Cunningham, Louise, RN,Stump-Sutliff, Kim, RN, MSN, AOCNS