Caring for Someone with Cancer
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Caring for Someone with Cancer
About this information
This information is for people who are looking after someone with cancer. You may still be adjusting to the news that someone you know has cancer and that you could become their carer or caregiver. It’s natural to be worried about how taking on a caring role might impact your life.
The experience of being a carer is different for everyone – it can bring a sense of satisfaction, but it can also be challenging and stressful. These pages offer practical tips on balancing the demands of caring, family, work and your own needs, and suggests where to find support.
We have included a section on caring for someone when the cancer is advanced. This may not be relevant to you, as many cancers are found early and respond well to treatment. If you are caring for someone with advanced cancer, this section provides information about managing this complex role.
On these pages, find out more about:
This information is reviewed by
This information was last reviewed November 2023 by the following expert content reviewers: Dr Alison White, Palliative Medicine Specialist, Royal Perth Hospital, WA; Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Louise Dillon, Consumer; Louise Durham, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care Outpatients, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Katrina Elias, Carers Program, South Western Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, NSW; Jessica Elliott, Social Worker, Youth Cancer Services, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Brendan Myhill, Social Worker and Bereavement Research Officer, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW; Penny Neller, Project Coordinator, National Palliative Care Projects, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Olivia Palac, Acting Assistant Director, Occupational Therapy, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Nicole Rampton, Advanced Occupational Therapist, Cancer Services, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Shirley Roberts, Nurse Consultant, Medical Oncology, Northern Adelaide Cancer Centre, SA; Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko, Specialist General Practitioner, and UNSW Research Fellow, NSW; Kathleen Wilkins, Consumer; Helen Zahra, Carers Program, South Western Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, NSW.