If you're helping your family member or friend through cancer treatment, you are a caregiver. This may mean helping with daily activities such as going to the doctor or making meals. It could also mean coordinating services and care. Or it may be giving emotional and spiritual support.
Giving care and support during this time can be a challenge. Many caregivers put their own needs and feelings aside to focus on the person with cancer. This can be hard to maintain for a long time, and it’s not good for your health. The stress can have both physical and psychological effects. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of others. It’s important for everyone that you give care to you too.
Source: National Cancer Institute - Support for Caregivers of Cancer Patients
Cancer.Net - Introduction to Family Caregiving - 12:20 minutes
This patient education video offers an introduction to family caregiving, with practical advice for coping with this unique role. It is led by Dr. Jyoti D. Patel, patient advocates Marc Heyison and Carole Siegel, and Dr. Lidia Schapira.
American Cancer Society: Caregiver Series: Communication - 4:50 minutes
Do you get anxious before your loved one’s medical appointments because of the amount of information you’ll receive? This video provides tips on how to make the most out of your time with your loved one’s doctor and care team.
This video is a part of the American Cancer Society's Caregiver Support Video Series. This series offers educational support to caregivers to assist with the everyday needs of cancer patients and provides self-care techniques to improve their quality of life.
American Cancer Society: Caregiver Series: Stress Management - 5:00 minutes
Feeling overwhelmed and juggling multiple responsibilities on top of providing care to your loved one with cancer can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. Four tips for coping are provided to help lower your stress level and better cope when times get tough.
This video is a part of the American Cancer Society's Caregiver Support Video Series. This series offers educational support to caregivers to assist with the everyday needs of cancer patients and provides self-care techniques to improve their quality of life.
This class is designed for relatives and friends who are caring for a loved one with cancer. Learn the importance of self-care and tools to assist in the caregiver role.
Schedule: For upcoming dates and times, see the Cancer Center calendar.
This program is offered free-of-charge and is facilitated by professional staff. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, support groups are currently meeting online via Zoom. For more information including how to register, see the Cancer Center calendar or email Rosario Campuzano-Cortez at rcampuza@ridleytreecc.org.
Cancer can involve significant psychological, social, and economic challenges for patients and their families. How and if these challenges are addressed is an important aspect of a patient’s care plan. The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center employs clinical social workers who provide emotional and practical support for patients, their families, and their friends. Oncology Social Workers can provide advocacy and referrals as well as individual and family counseling services.
Services are available at no cost and are available to anyone in our community, regardless of where they are receiving medical care.
For more information, call (805) 879-5690.
These are just a few highlights from the Resource Library collection. Please click here to search our online catalog. For more information about the Resource Library and how to borrow materials, visit our website.
The Caregiver's Companion by 
The Caregiver's Guide to Cancer by 
American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Family Caregiving by 
Caregiving: A Step-By-Step Resource for Caring for the Person with Cancer at Home by 
Cancer Caregiving A-Z by 
Loving, Supporting, and Caring for the Cancer Patient by 
How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick by 
The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation From Loved One to Caregiver by 
Things I Wish I'd Known: Cancer Caregivers Speak Out by 
The Mindful Caregiver by 
A Guided Meditation to Help With Caregiver Stress (CD) by 
When Life Becomes Precious by 