When You’re a Cancer Survivor

The National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), a nonprofit organization in the United States, founded in 1986, expanded even further the definition of Cancer Survivor. The term that used to mean as the person with cancer of any type and who is still living was expanded to include family, friends and voluntary caregivers who are affected by the diagnosis in any way. Thus, if you have an affinity or is a member of the family of a patient diagnosed with cancer, you are, as NCCS points it out, a cancer survivor. In this regard, a family member, more often than not, most especially in our Filipino culture, becomes the caregiver.

The caregiver as cancer survivor

The caregiver is the person who most often helps the person with cancer and is not paid to do so. In most cases, the main or primary caregiver is a spouse, partner, parent, or an adult child. Cancer patients whose family is not around, close friends, co-workers, or neighbors may fill this role. In both instances, the caregiver becomes a cancer survivor, as he or she is affected by the diagnosis.

Caregiver’s role

The caregiver has the key role in the patient’s care. Caregiver support is fundamental and necessary to the physical and emotional wellbeing of the patient with cancer.

The upside and downside of caregiver role

Accepting the role of caregiver allows you to show love and respect for the family member diagnosed with cancer. Upside of caregiver role includes confidence, satisfaction, and accomplishment in caring for a loved one. You may discover new strengths and abilities that you did not even know you could do, and may find greater purpose for your own life. The downside is that caregiver role is also frustrating and painful. Caring for a very sick family member or spouse might result to your own feeling of sadness and physical and emotional distress.

You need to take care of yourself

Depression is common in caregivers. If you’re easily angered, always feels down, has no energy, and cries or complains a lot, it may be a warning sign of depression. Decide on your limits. It might be helpful to find someone to pitch in for a shared caregiver role or find someone else to act as the primary caregiver, to help you recover from your burn out.

Enjoy and find happiness (2 types of activities that you need to do for yourself)

Those that involve other people: Enjoy a meal and the company of a friend; Relaxation and accomplishment: Finish a project. Exercise. Spa. See a movie.