Surviving Breast Cancer
Aug 7, 20223 min
“Cause you know, I just can't stand
To see, see you'all pushed around
‘Cause when things go wrong,
Wrong with you,
It hurts me too”
(E James)
Caregiving is a unique art form, unique in that all on the receiving end are different and are faced with their own personal, individual issues. Breast cancer presents many, many challenges to the patient and their caregiver.
Just last evening a young caregiver paid a visit to our Thursday Night Thrivers Meet Up looking for advice. She came to the right space. The responses to her quest were sincere, full of love, hope, and assistance. From the young lady’s response she was glad to have come.
But what are the characteristics for caregiving? After careful consideration we’ve determined the following:
First off, recognize that there are many ways to help.
Secondly, it is important to understand that caregiving is stressful. The caregiver needs to take care of themselves too.
Third, understand that the primary caregivers are actually the oncology team working to save your loved one.
Recognizing that you may be able to take notes at the ongoing medical visits (this was easier pre-COVID-19).
You may also be able to ask questions of this team if you are allowed to attend. In the event that only the patient is allowed in due to the pandemic then wait patiently and record or take notes of the discussion as soon as the patient returns to you. Remember that Chemo Brain is real and that memory for a patient undergoing chemotherapy may represent a challenge.
Show respect at all times to the patient. You are stressed but they are living “it.”
Let the patient make the decisions.
Offer to help, but mean it.
Take responsibility for practical matters.
Take pains to communicate fully.
Express your love, desire to help, but give the patient space.
As always let us know your thoughts and how you’d like to contribute to the discussion.
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“Battling metastatic cancer is difficult enough for any person, and we should be breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of providing the best care possible,” said lead author AJ Scheitler, director of stakeholder relations at the health policy research center. “Our work aims to offer state-level policy solutions that should be further explored.” Read More.
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And professional caregivers themselves don't make enough money to properly care for their own families. Read More.
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And professional caregivers themselves don't make enough money to properly care for their own families. Read More.
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During the crisis, on my drive from the hospital to home, I would sometimes think, “God, I could just get out of here” because the relentless pressure of every single day and the very painful sight of Brad being so sick added up to a wish for escape.
In reality, I didn't want to actually leave my children and abandon everything. But it was a tempting fantasy. Read More.