Caregiver Burnout: “Remember that taking care of yourself is not a luxury — it is a vital necessity. By taking care of your own health, you will be in a better position to provide the best care possible.”
Caring for a cancer survivor is hard work. As I look back on my own cancer survivorship, I think that my wife’s caregiving (Dawn was my caregiver) was never our focus. What can I say? I was diagnosed with an incurable form of cancer and I was preoccupied. If I knew then what I know now…
Looking back on my active therapies (surgery, radiation and chemotherapy) I find it ironic that we were so focused on my health but not on her health. We’ve learned a lot since then…
Here are the 7 tips for an AYA cancer caregiver to avoid caregiver burnout. I moved #7 to the top of the list because I think “educating oneself about cancer” is the single most important thing for both survivors and caregivers.
What do you think about this list? Would you add anything, remove anything?
I am both a cancer survivor and cancer coach. Are you a caregiver for an AYA cancer patient? Please scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply to you ASAP.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Recommended Reading:
Multiple Myeloma Cancer Coaching- Caregiver rights and responsibilities-
Cancer Coaching-“Your Brain after Chemo”
Caregiver for Aging Parent? Consider Home-based Jobs
7. Educate yourself about cancer.
1. Do not handle everything alone.
2. Talk to others.
3. Maintain your social connections.
4. Do not avoid your problems.
5. Take conscious care of your health each day.
6. Take time outs.
“Remember that taking care of yourself is not a luxury — it is a vital necessity. By taking care of your own health, you will be in a better position to provide the best care possible. If you are showing signs of stress, or are depressed, make sure that you talk to your doctor.”