Caring for Someone with Cancer

More people are living with cancer longer, due to earlier diagnoses and better treatments.

This has resulted in a growing number of people who care for someone with cancer. Some carers may be looking after someone who requires a great deal of care. Others may find they mainly need to give assistance with personal care tasks, such as help with dressing and providing meals. 

Increasing care may be needed if the person with cancer becomes less able to cope unaided with daily tasks.

The carer, however, can become a forgotten figure who doesn't get the help and support they need. As a carer, not knowing exactly what you want is understandable, if your attention is focused on someone close to you and not on yourself.

It is difficult to get the support right, because the amount you need depends on how emotionally and physically strong you feel and how well you think you are coping at any particular moment. Finding the right people to support you may not be easy.

We may feel our families should be the ones to give support, but some might find it too difficult to cope with their own feelings. Others may want to rush in and take over, which can cause resentment.

All the services we offer at Wallace Cancer Care are available to carers and family members alike.  You may find that our counselling service is particularly useful as might the complementary therapies we offer.