How to Support a Loved One Diagnosed with Cancer
There is no way to prepare for the moment when you find out that your loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. Whether you have recently been thrust into the caregiving role or have been coping with your loved one’s illness for a long time, you are critically important in the fight against cancer. The road ahead may be hard to predict and often painful to think about. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and confused at times. However, by being an active and informed caregiver, you can give yourself the tools you need to take control and impact the healing process in a very powerful and positive way.
Your care and support goes far beyond offering a hand to hold. Your loved one needs an educated caregiver and a strong support system, someone to serve as a partner in making decisions and planning the course of treatment. Playing the role of informed partner is just as important as providing emotional comfort.
MyCancer.com is designed to help you play that role by giving you the information you need to understand your loved one’s options, ask the right questions, and ensure the delivery of appropriate, personalized care. The knowledge you gain from this website is meant to empower you to attend doctor appointments (if your loved one needs you to), seek guidance, and voice concerns or opinions of your own.
Fighting cancer is a team effort, one that requires both mental and physical strength. It requires positive, proactive energy, and open dialogue between the patient, caregivers, and the physicians involved in the patient’s care. It’s important for your loved one know that he or she is not alone in this battle.
For now, we encourage you to read through these pages, and take your first step in becoming the best caregiver you can be. If your loved one is in need of a second opinion or wants to change doctors, the Caris Physician Finder is a great place to start. Use this tool to find an expert in your area who is an advocate for personalizing cancer care. Caris Life Sciences partners with a vast network of hospitals and academic institutions that are pioneering the field of personalized medicine in the oncology community. This network, known as the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance (POA), can be found at CarisLifeSciences.com.