Tips for the family and caregivers of cancer patients | Norton Cancer Institute

Sarah Parsons, D.O., is a board-certified psychiatrist with Norton Cancer Institute's Behavioral Oncology Program. Here she discusses tips for the family and caregivers of patients with cancer or major diseases.

Always expect change. This cancer is a big experience in a loved one’s life. You may see them be weaker than you ever thought they would be and you may also see strength that you never knew was there. And sometimes that’s at the same time. That can be challenging and rewarding. So, making sure that you're able to navigate that change and know that relationships and roles may shift as well, it’s important to be ready for that.

Also, just take care of yourself. I mean, you can't be there for your loved one if you're not taking good care of yourself. Ask for help, seek professional help if needed. Behavioral oncology is here to help as well. There are lots of techniques to manage stress of any kind and all of those apply in a cancer setting. So, exercise is definitely helpful, meditation can be helpful, talk therapy is often helpful and medication is sometimes warranted in certain cases if the stress is significant.

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