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When your loved one is diagnosed with cancer, they can feel isolated from the people who once felt closest to them, especially if they do not intimately know someone who can relate to their journey. As a caretaker, you may not be able to walk in your loved one’s shoes, but your work is critical. Whether you are a full-time caregiver or someone who is there for support, you will be the one who gets them through their most difficult days. As a new caregiver or old, the tips below will give you an insight into how to support your loved one to the fullest.
1) Communication
Communication is essential to caring for someone battling cancer. They will be stressed and confused, so be open and listen to their feelings and opinions while giving them time to completely express themselves. Allow them to participate in medical discussions and decisions, unless they are unable to, because it is their life, and they should be able to make their own decisions.
2) Be aware
You do not want to be too controlling over your loved one as a caregiver. The last thing a cancer patient wants to feel after being diagnosed is that they are too weak or sick to do activities and lose their sense of freedom. Before taking on responsibilities of caring for your loved one, learn about how they handle their treatment and react to stress so you are both able to communicate effectively.
3) Listen
As a caretaker, this may be your most important responsibility. Allowing your loved one to talk about their troubles will not only provide them with a way to release stress, but it will also allow you to understand how they are feeling.
4) Take care of yourself
Remember to take breaks from being a caretaker and get some rest. If you genuinely want to give your loved one your all, you must be healthy enough to do so. Caring for others can be physically demanding, but it can also be mentally draining. Take time to talk to a therapist about your difficulties and experiences as a caregiver, as well as seeing friends and family to unwind and enjoy something different.
This is the most challenging time in your loved one’s life, but it is quite possibly the toughest time in your life, too. Show yourself grace. At the end of the day, being a caregiver is a choice; however, when the love for our father or sister or child outweighs the challenges that come from cancer treatment, it is often the easiest choice we make. To all the caregivers out there: you are doing a wonderful job.
Source:
Are You an Overbearing Caregiver? (curetoday.com)
Caregivers of Cancer Patients – National Cancer Institute
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