Caregiver Tips

As a family caregiver, you understandably are concerned about your loved one and his or her physical as well as emotional and mental states. Compassion and empathy are just as important as treatments. Your loved one appreciates your presence and your support. You can be an oasis in an otherwise turbulent time.

In the weeks immediately following a diagnosis of cancer, it is typical for a person to experience anxiety in response to such a major upheaval. Cancer changes everything-including the definition of a "normal" day or a "normal" reaction to circumstances and people.

Many people think patients with advanced cancer have anxiety because they fear death. That is rarely true. More often, patients experience anxiety because they fear uncontrolled pain, being left alone, or being dependent on others. As a caregiver, you can help alleviate many of those fears by simply being supportive and available.

Look for overt signs of distress, and monitor it over at least two weeks. If you notice multiple symptoms that are present almost every day for two or more weeks, discuss it with the patient's healthcare provider.