As part of World Cancer Day, Patient Panorama, our patient research team, and HRW OR:BIT, our Oncology Research, Business Insights Team, have collaborated on a special piece, focusing on the role of Cancer Caregivers, and the impact this diagnosis and journey has on them, both as individuals and loved ones of someone with cancer. The Diagnosis A cancer diagnosis is devastating. This should not come as a shocking or revelatory thing to say. Imagine finding yourself sitting silently on a hard chair, looking down, shuffling your feet, straining to hear the outside hustle and bustle of busy hospital chatter, only to find your thoughts suddenly and brutally punctuated by a few words; heavy, leaden words which confirm deep rooted suspicions that you had tried to wave away or sharp, aggressive words, pitched to destroy. Regardless of how news is received, for many there is no room to think, breathe or process, instead reactions are often underscored by tears, anger, or silence. Those few words change the course of a life, steering people down a new road, a different future from the one they hoped to lead and shifting them from ‘person’ to ‘patient’. But, from that pivotal starting point, those few words with a doctor are often not just shared with a patient. Their poison can spread quickly and deeply, often to the home. The Journey The cancer journey of spouses, children or even friends is one that is often overlooked but should not be underestimated in terms of its impact on both them and their loved one. Not only do caregivers become intrinsically linked to the health of their ‘patient’, but their own day-to-day lives, their own paths are now different, shaped by a disease that is not their own. Both patients and caregivers are forced to worry about the ‘now’ and the ‘future’ of the other, with patients often feeling they are now a burdensome anchor to their loved one, and most carers worrying that they aren’t enough and could do more. It is important to realise though, that not all patients benefit from such support, either because they reject it and isolate themselves, or previously close networks (particularly friends) can distance themselves, unable to cope with the new normal. Typically, it is left to spouses to become that holistic support network, willingly (in most cases) taking on the roles of taxi driver, shopper, chef, pot washer, note taker, Googler, translator, emotional sounding board, amongst others. Reflecting on this laundry list of support offered, it should in fact this time be both shocking and revelatory that they are often not lucky enough to receive support dedicated to their own proxy cancer journeys. Most read information leaflets given to patients, seek out advocacy groups (designed for patients), Google for advice or news on treatments (typically for their loved one and not themselves). Caregivers in fact often downplay what they want, and need. The cancer is not theirs; they should not complain or feel it as a burden. As such, it is rare to hear caregivers be given hints and tips about how to look after their loved one, or receive psychological support, or counselling, that is dedicated to their own struggles. Rather, existing (and limited) resources are funnelled to the patient. We know that caregivers play a critical role in relation to patient outcomes, but the value of their worth isn’t always truly recognised. More should be done to highlight that this lack of support is a chasm that needs to be closed in the cancer journey of both the patient and those around them. If you would like to find out how we access the reality of the caregivers experience in our oncology work, fill in the Contact form below or email HRW-ORBIT@hrwhealthcare.com Apply Now!