Caregiving
Kelly Discusses the Rewards of Caregiving
Kelly discusses what was most meaningful to her as a caregiver to her husband, Justin, after he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2007.
Lessons Learned: The Importance of Self-care When Caregiving
In 2007, Kelly unexpectedly became a caregiver when her husband, Justin, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. "At 27 years old and having been married for only 3 months, I felt completely unequipped to take on the title of caregiver," she writes. "I was just getting used to being a 'Mrs.' and signing a new last name. Life was supposed to just be beginning for Justin and me." Keep reading to learn more about Kelly's story and some vital lessons she learned that are important for every caregiver to know.
Regular People Doing Extraordinary Things: Cancer Caregivers Need Support
The demands of caregiving can be hard physically, financially, and emotionally. All these factors put caregivers at risk for substantial distress that can impact their quality of life and physical and mental health. To help address caregivers’ needs, CSC created a web-based distress screening, referral, and support program for family caregivers and anyone who is a care partner for someone living with cancer. “The number-one feedback we get is that there’s no other program out there like this right now,” says CSC’s Vice President of Research Alexandra Zaleta, Ph.D. Read on to learn more.
Writing a New, Resilient Story
Nancy Sharp concludes her Resilience series with a poignant reflection on what it means to lead a more resilient, optimistic life after losing a loved one to cancer.
Caregiver Support Group
Elaine, caregiver for husband with melanoma, shares her positive experience in finding a caregiver support group which helped her realize she was not alone.
Walking Heals Body and Mind
“I see a lot of patients and caregivers paralyzed by fear, especially after a tough diagnosis,” Dr. Boxwell said. “It’s easy to become immobilized in these situations, and this is why movement created by walking is so essential. When we move our bodies, we move our minds. In this way, patients and caregivers learn to see different possibilities.”
The Question of Mortality: It's a Necessary Conversation
I think it’s the cruelty of it all that has me so upset. Cancer is fierce. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Cancer kills. This is true: there’s nothing quite like a cancer diagnosis to bring us face to face with mortality.
Addressing the Needs of Lung Cancer Caregivers
Are you a caregiver for someone with lung cancer? Do you want to learn how to take care of yourself and your loved one? Watch the webinar, Addressing the Needs of Lung Cancer Caregivers.
The Strength of Surrender
It would be great if we had some kind of roadmap for these unprecedented times, but this is a once-in-a-century event according to some estimates. No, the pandemic playbook is being written in real time, and, much as the world would like to move on, we are nowhere near done grappling with COVID and its life and death consequences.