Caregivers

At age 84, Inocencio Melendez-Schroder was diagnosed with stage IV leukemia and was told that chemotherapy and radiation would not be recommended. Soon after his death at home, his daughter, Barbara, was diagnosed with stage II leukemia and used her dad’s lessons to improve her prognosis.

Kelly Rodenberg, author of There’s Something Going on Upstairs, offers her insights from being a caregiver to her husband Bob to dealing with her own glioblastoma diagnosis.

Carly Gerretsen, DNP, RN, FNP-C, RNFA, offers an overview of kidney cancer and the treatment options, advising how to take control of controllable factors and take care of yourself.

While a cancer diagnosis is devasting for the patient, it also has an impact on the patient's caregiver. Bina Parekh, PhD, explains how caregivers experience different types of trauma, especially with the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caregivers can vicariously experience trauma of the patient they are caring for. Bina Parekh, PhD, shares how this can impact the caregiver psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Vicarious trauma can manifest physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Those experiencing vicarious trauma may feel confused, irritable, or have trouble sleeping.

Caregivers and healthcare workers have chosen to put others before themselves. Bina Parekh, PhD, shares how going back to the basics can help with vicarious trauma.

Caring for her husband Bill as he deals with skin cancer, Cathie Balthazor shares the importance of being there to listen to your loved one and care for his or her emotional life.

When her mother was diagnosed with stage IIIB lung cancer, Danielle Hicks took an active role in caring for her and found her purpose helping other patients going through the same fight.