Cancer Support Community's "CARE Active" Concept says: People who care about someone with cancer can become active participants in enhancing health and wellness for themselves and their loved ones, and nurturing their relationships through and beyond the cancer experience.
Being CARE Active is more than just coping with cancer and the stress it brings. It is about actively recognizing your ability to care effectively for your loved one and, at the same time, it is about your ability to address your own physical and emotional needs. This attitude requires thinking through the problems that arise to make small, incremental choices that will enhance the quality of your life and your relationship with the cancer patient. This does not mean sweeping challenges under the rug or making changes to focus solely on the person with cancer. Rather, it means figuring out how to exercise a reasonable amount of control in a situation that often feels out of control.
By putting the CARE Active approach into practice, we believe that you will feel empowered to make a difference in the outcome of this health crisis. This will give you increased hope and allow you to cope more effectively over the long haul.
Use the tabs on the right side of the page to learn more about how to be CARE Active at any stage in your loved one's cancer journey.
Resources
CSC volunteer Michelle Johnston-Fleece is featured in the Winter 2010 edition of CR Magazine. Click the link below to learn more about her inspiring role as a caregiver to her late husband Matthew, and how the experience has since changed her life.
http://www.crmagazine.org/archive/Winter2010/Pages/SteppingUp.aspx