Caregiving Characteristics:

A caregiver is someone who provides physical, practical, and emotional support to a person who is suffering from cancer disease. The things that they do are listed below:

• Support, and encouragement.
• Medicinal help.
• Help manage symptoms and side effects.
• Giving rides and arranging appointments.
• Help with legal and financial issues.

Types of Caregiving

The following are the various types of caregivers according to the type of cancer and treatment changes.

Live-in Caregiver

It comes under the main caregiver category. Because they are the closest family member like wife, husband, or children, another family member can also be a part of this caregiving activity so that they care good enough to support their treatment. These caregivers support in every possible helping situation for patients.

Long-distance Caregiver

A family member or friend who takes of the cancer person but they do not live nearby. They get in contact with phone or mail or sometimes in clinics. This type of caregiving leads to stress because the cancer patient lives far away.

Sharing Caregiver Responsibilities

These caregivers share the responsibilities of other caregivers by helping in doing activities that they are can do. They can be a member of a church or club, and they might take turns in bringing essential food items to the patients and lend a helping hand in case of needy situations.

Caregiving Challenges and Rewards

The challenges of caregiving include the following conditions:

• Physical, emotional, and financial stress.
• Less time for personal and family life.
• Caregiving and balancing your job. 
• Lonely feeling or isolated and lack of privacy.

Caregivers can choose what they can do, and they can manage their activities according to their possibilities. There are many ways to choose the roles of caregivers.

Importance of your Decisions 

In the past times, the doctors decided on the treatment for the patients without their decisions. However, now the situation is changing. Every health care advisory system helps the patient to know what treatment needs to take according to his conditions. This team helps the doctors to make a treatment plan that makes more controlling the treatment process for the patient.

What Needs to be Considered

Before you finalize your decision on treatment, consult your health care team about the various factors like which type of cancer it is, treatment options, details about the other medical conditions and their side effects, and how this cancer treatment can affect your present physical and emotional health. 

And when it comes to your situation, the following aspects should be considered:

• Emotional and social challenges. Can anybody take care and provide emotional support to you? Will you feel lonely from other people when you live alone? How much support can you get during treatment?

• Financial challenges. Many people live on a fixed income to lead their life. The costs of treatment vary from different procedures based on several factors. You need to consult your health care team to get to know about ways to get financial support with cancer treatment.

And you need to consider the following quality of life factors related to your physical, emotional, and social. These are listed below: 

• Nutrition.
• Physical and financial security.
• Relationships with a meaningful life.
• Independent personal care.

Cancer treatment goals

The type of cancer and the amount of its spread decides your cancer treatment goals. And the factors include:

• Being cancer-free.
• Living longer, even with cancer.
• Symptoms and cancer side effects.
• Maintaining physical and emotional stability.
• Quality of life.

You should need to consider the chances of living with a healthy and enjoying life rather than curing cancer permanently. And these goals may differ from one person to another according to their age. Aggressive treatment may not be suited for you, and this is more important if you have a chronic health condition.

If You and Your Family Do Not Agree

Every individual has their views about the treatment that you are going to take. Furthermore, some of your family members or closest friends want you to take aggressive treatment, but it should be your decision to finalize.

In such conditions where you forced to take other than your desired treatment, you must consider talking with your doctor and try to explain the same with your family mates. Finally, it is your treatment, and you only need to make the right choice for you.