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Caring for Someone with Cancer Mar 19, 2010

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The role of a caretaker in the life of a cancer patient is vitally important.  Cancer patients often appreciate a relative or a close friend becoming actively involved in care management.  Often times though, the caretaker has found himself or herself quickly immersed in the situation, and perhaps, even expected to become like a medical professional overnight.  In reality, the caretaker is usually unfamiliar with exactly how to best care for and support the cancer patient.  In this video, Johanna Bendell, M.D., offers advice for caretakers.  It is not easy to be the caretaker for someone with cancer, so remember, we here at The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation are here for you to offer guidance and support to any adult impacted by cancer.

Caring for Someone with Cancer Transcript

One thing we also encourage when we meet our patients with cancer is to bring in people who are their primary caretakers.  For some people it might be a close friend, it might be a spouse, it might be a child, or a sibling – but the most important part is to get that caretaker involved with your care – to be able to have that caretaker know what you are going through and to have that caretaker know what to expect.   Caretakers should also know that there are services available at the Minnie Pearl to help them get through it as well.  It is not easy to be the caretaker of someone with cancer.  I tell my patients oftentimes that these caretakers are expected to become medical professionals overnight and there are ways in which we can help support you.  We also have a number of caretakers of patients who can talk about how they have gotten through it themselves and a number of resources available as well. 

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