Caregivers and Family

This online, interactive guide can empower caregivers with the resources and information they need – from anywhere and at any time. It can help you: 

• Learn how to care for yourself as a caregiver. 
• Better understand what your loved one is going through.
• Develop skills for coping and caring.
• Take steps to help protect your health and well-being.

This guide is also available as a downloadable PDF .  

This video series offers educational support as you assist with the everyday needs of your loved one, as well as self-care techniques to improve your own quality of life.

• Physical Care Training: drain care, lifting, pain management, medication management, symptom/side effect management, and identifying signs of infection.
• Caregiver Self-Care: nutrition, physical activity, stress management and coping, dealing with fear of recurrence, and deep breathing/meditation.
• Advocacy: how to effectively communicate your loved one’s needs to the cancer care team.
  

Here you'll find information on what to expect if you are caring for someone with cancer, and find out what you need to know when caring for a loved one at home.

Caring for someone who is sick, taking on new responsibilities, and worrying about the future can be exhausting at the very least. Here you can find tips on making sure you also take care of yourself. You'll also find checklists that can help caregivers spot signs of anxiety or depression in yourself or others.

If someone close to you has cancer, do you find it hard to talk to them about it? Do you worry that you'll say the wrong thing? If so, you're not alone. Find out how to be supportive and helpful when you talk with someone who has cancer.

If your child or teenager has cancer, go here to get information about what to expect. You can find information on coping with the diagnosis, dealing with financial and insurance issues, and nutrition for children with cancer, as well as detailed information about many cancers that affect children and teens.

The American Cancer Society has programs and services to help people with cancer and their loved ones understand cancer, manage their lives through treatment and recovery, and find the emotional support they need. And best of all, our help is free.