A carer is someone who gives support to someone who could not manage without your help. You may not see yourself as a carer and may think this is part of your ‘role’ as a family member/partner or that you are just helping out.
Being a carer can mean a variety of things:
Being a carer can be rewarding and fulfilling, it can bring you closer with your loved one. However, the physical and emotional demands can be difficult to manage and you may experience difficulties:
Many carers we work with come to us as they are experiencing the difficult emotions we described above. However, for some people guilt can be a barrier to accessing the support despite the distress they may be experiencing. More information about emotional responses can be found here.
Getting support as a carer
Although you may not identify as a carer there is a lot of support out there for people caring for someone with cancer:
Information about supporting someone with cancer and advice on taking care of yourself:
Local services:
Youtube videos