Table of Contents
Introduction vii
Part 1 The Basics 1
Questions 1-6 introduce the basics of cancer and what it means to be a caregiver:
How is cancer treated?
What can I say to people who have cancer? What shouldn't I say?
How do I offer to help a person with cancer?
Part 2 Managing Medical Treatment and Care 13
Questions 7-26 cover concerns regarding many aspects of a patient's treatment, including the people who will be involved, where to find more information, and choosing between treatment options:
Who is the best doctor to treat this cancer? How do I find that doctor?
Where can I find reliable information about cancer?
How do I know whether we are making the best treatment decisions?
Part 3 Helping Your Loved One Cope 43
Questions 27-39 discuss ways to assist your loved one in dealing with the emotional and physical effects of cancer:
How do I help my loved one better manage the emotional "ups" and "downs"?
How do I help my partner manage the stress? The cancer diagnosis, upcoming surgery, and possible chemotherapy and radiation therapy all seem so overwhelming. Where do I begin?
What can help my loved one to relax during treatments and tests?
Part 4 Caring for Yourself 63
Questions 40-48 address ways for caregivers to manage their own stress and emotions while caring for a loved one with cancer:
Thinking about the future and everything that has to be done-how can I manage this practically?
I have not seen my friends for weeks. Sometimes I feel that I just need to get away from the hospital, doctors, and the cancer for a while. How can I do this without feeling too guilty?
What are support groups and how can they help me? If I decide to try outa group, how do I locate one right for me?
Part 5 Relationship and Family Issues 79
Questions 49-69 describe concerns about the effects of cancer on personal and family relationships:
How do I get away from feeling that the cancer is our entire life?
I feel that my husband and I are growing apart since his cancer diagnosis. Why is this happening?
How do I know if my children are having problems coping?
Part 6 Home Care, Medical Equipment, Placement, and Other Practical Matters 123
Questions 70-75 focus on care after the patient is released from the hospital:
My husband just had colon surgery, and we were just told by the doctor that he no longer needs to stay in the hospital. Are we really going to be able to manage his care at home?
Can we get a hospital bed for my husband when he returns home from the hospital?
What is a skilled nursing facility? How does my father get into one?
Part 7 Insurance Issues 137
Questions 76-82 address financial and insurance-related questions:
How can we protect our family financially while being faced with expensive treatments for cancer?
What is Medicare?
Prescription drug coverage is getting so expensive, even though we have insurance. Is there anything I can do to reduce this expense?
Part 8 Work Concerns 147
Questions 83-88 discuss how to handle work-related issues after your loved one has been diagnosed with cancer:
Whom should I tell at work that my family member has cancer?
I have to go to work for financial reasons, but I feel so bad about leaving my husband to go to medical appointments without me. How can I do my job and not feel so guilty?
Will my partner be able to continue working during radiation therapy and chemotherapy?
Part 9 Emotional Reactions and Practical Concerns about Death and Dying 157
Questions 89-100 offer answers to questions about how to deal with loss or the possibility of a loved one dying:
What is hospice?
What is a healthcare proxy and living will?
What are the tasks of grieving, and what does it feel like?
Appendix 177
Glossary 189
Index 195
