Whether it’s your spouse, partner, parent, sibling or friend that is living with cancer, the information provided here is meant to help you navigate the diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and possibly the bereavement issues that you may face. For more than 25 years, the Cancer Support Community has encouraged people with cancer to become "Patient Active" — that is, to become fully engaged in learning about and creating strategies to manage cancer while gaining a greater sense of control, community, and hope.
As someone who cares about a person with cancer, you can take action as well! The Cancer Support Community "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.
Resources
A caregiver is anyone who provides physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, or logistical support to a loved one with a chronic, disabling or life-threatening illness.
This educational booklet provides personal stories, checklists and practical advice for caregivers to help them address both their own needs and those of their loved ones with breast cancer.
Finding out a loved one has cancer can be overwhelming. Cancer affects not only the person diagnosed but all those who care about that person. You may be wondering, “What should I do now?” or “How can I help?”