Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/103434
ASK THE NURSE Q A & TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS: SUPPORTING PATIENTS THROUGH TREATMENT By Theresa Rodriguez, RN, BSN Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) HOW CAN CAREGIVERS BEST and pet therapy also help many patients WHAT QUESTIONS MIGHT A SUPPORT PATIENTS' PHYSICAL relax and feel better, thereby increasing CAREGIVER ASK THE LOVED ONE'S NEEDS DURING TREATMENT? coping skills. I would encourage you CARE TEAM TO BE BEST PREPARED Treatment for cancer is a journey, as a caregiver to celebrate the good TO SUPPORT THE PATIENT DURING and patients will certainly experience times with your loved one—especially TREATMENT? changes to their bodies throughout their days of high energy or milestones in The road to healing is a difficult one care. Caregivers can be supportive of treatment. Remain positive, prayerful, that will pose many challenges to all patients' physical needs by encouraging and encouraging during the down times. dimensions of a patient's life—physical, movement, by practicing tolerance, and Know that treatment is a journey. emotional, and spiritual. Know that through understanding that the patient each member of a care team is an expert may experience physical limitations. WHAT ARE SOME COMMON in his or her respective field and has Simply knowing what resources the CHALLENGES THAT CAREGIVERS a wealth of knowledge and advice to hospital offers patients, such as physical FACE AS THEY SUPPORT PATIENTS offer from professional experience. and rehabilitative therapy, is a wonderful DURING THIS TIME? Caregivers should ask the care team first step. CTCA® has personnel who Caregivers need support, too, as seeing members what the common challenges can guide patients in these areas; it also their loved one face cancer poses many tend to be and how to prevent or work has an on-site fitness center for gentle challenges—physically, emotionally, through them. For example, a caregiver exercise, which encourages strength and and financially. Caregivers may need may ask a dietitian, "What foods do you cardiovascular health—both of which aid to take unexpected time off from work recommend I prepare if my loved one's in healing. to support or travel with the patient. appetite is affected by treatment?" Or one They may be called on to work more, might ask a naturopathic doctor, "Which HOW CAN CAREGIVERS BEST or begin employment, to help offset the supplements are the most important to SUPPORT PATIENTS EMOTIONALLY cost of care. They may need counseling take if my loved one is not able to ingest DURING TREATMENT? support themselves as they work through them all?" Many patients describe cancer treatment new feelings. CTCA has services to aid as an emotional roller coaster. CTCA caregivers in all of these areas, including WHAT STEPS CAN CAREGIVERS offers counseling and spiritual support support groups and assistance in TAKE TO ENSURE THEIR OWN via the mind-body medicine and pastoral completing Family and Medical Leave WELLNESS DURING THIS TIME? care departments, in addition to staffing Act paperwork. Being there for someone 100 percent of a professional psychologist if needed. the time can be draining and leave the Reiki as well as laughter, music, dance, caregiver feeling helpless, so knowing 38 cancer fighters thrive | spring 2013 cfthrive.com