Things I Wish I'd Known: Cancer Caregivers Speak Out

Family caregivers are the unsung heroes of the life-saving drama that's triggered by a cancer diagnosis. No first-time caregiver should face cancer caregiving without this book in hand. It offers keys to unlocking the dilemmas of cancer caregiving so you can take charge as a knowledgeable advocate for your patient.Nearly three quarters of American households will find themselves caring for a cancer patient at one point in their lives.

This book is the first to capture their thoughts, feelings, and insights on a large scale. It is based on 95 formal interviews with non-professional caregivers (some of whom are cancer survivors themselves), covering 117 patients ranging in age from 2 to 92 and facing 40 different cancer diagnoses. Practical lessons drawn from caregivers' experiences are intermingled with their own words to forge a compelling narrative intended to help both patients and their family caregivers to understand and cope with the full range of issues they should anticipate as they fight the battle of their lives.

The lessons provide a building block on which you can rely as you participate in decision-making and plan for the future.

You will learn about caregiver considerations in:

Getting a clear diagnosis

Gathering information

Choosing treatment partners

Making treatment decisions (including complementary and
alternative treatments and palliative care)

Getting inside the caregiver role

Accessing available resources (including clinical trials)

Managing financial and legal issues

Seeking normalcy during treatment

Confronting issues facing families with children
(children in a household with cancer, and children as patients)

Managing caregiver emotions and health

Nearing life's end

Preparing for the aftermath (including caregiver healing)

Anticipating how cancer changes caregivers

Caregivers are the critical partners in helping cancer patients--especially those whose lives are at risk--to cope with treatment while sustaining routine daily activities. Patients vary in how each responds to even standard treatments, so each caregiver must invent his or her own way every day, based on an ever-changing set of circumstances.

A University of California Study estimated that the stress of caregiving can take as many as 10 years off a family caregiver's life. Lessons from experienced caregivers can build the new caregiver's stock of ideas and solutions and help accelerate needed learning while reducing the most avoidable stresses.