Being A Cancer Patient's Caregiver
Being a Cancer Patient’s Caregiver
John Cox
AIU Online
Abstract
The opportunity to be a caregiver to someone who has been diagnosed with cancer is an experience like no other. Through the fear, pain and heartache, caregivers also can experience tremendous joy.
Being a Cancer Patient’s Caregiver
Many people know someone who has been diagnosed with some form of cancer. Few, however, have the opportunity to be a caregiver to a person who contracts that disease. For those who are given the chance, being a caregiver to a cancer patient can be shocking, frustrating, and, hopefully, very rewarding.
According to the American Cancer Society (2013) the estimated new cases of cancer in 2013 will be 1,660,290. There …show more content…
The physician may prescribe the strongest medication to fight the nausea and it will be obvious that the medication is helping. The nausea subsides and the number of times the patient throws up becomes less and less. The patient may lose their hair from the chemo, but the day the patient gets a wig that just enhances their natural good looks is one that can be labeled as bittersweet. The nurses in the chemo room get to know the patient and the caregiver and they may begin to make comments about how much better the patient is looking. At some point the patient finally says, “I actually think I can beat this!” Then the caregiver can only shout, “Hallelujah!” Within the last two or three treatments some tests are run and they show that the patient is clear from cancer. The chemo may be continued through the scheduled number of treatments as a safeguard, but it becomes very obvious that the loved one’s cancer is now in a state of remission. At that point, it becomes just as hard to hold in the exuberance as it had been to hold in the frustration. Then comes the great day when the patient finishes chemo and can ring the bell of victory. Most chemotherapy treatment centers have a bell of some sort outside their facility. It is rung to symbolize completion of treatment and victory over the cancer. When a patient is able to ring that bell, joy unspeakable fills the heart and …show more content…
Unfortunately, the statistics show that it is very likely that some who read this will have to do so. To those who must endure it, the shocks and frustrations can be extremely hard. Staying strong and helping the patient as much as possible and just being by his or her side will produce rewards. Those rewards may be few and far between, but they cumulatively lead up to the cancer’s remission and the loved one’s victory over that dreaded disease. Then the caregiver too can ring that
John Cox
AIU Online
Abstract
The opportunity to be a caregiver to someone who has been diagnosed with cancer is an experience like no other. Through the fear, pain and heartache, caregivers also can experience tremendous joy.
Being a Cancer Patient’s Caregiver
Many people know someone who has been diagnosed with some form of cancer. Few, however, have the opportunity to be a caregiver to a person who contracts that disease. For those who are given the chance, being a caregiver to a cancer patient can be shocking, frustrating, and, hopefully, very rewarding.
According to the American Cancer Society (2013) the estimated new cases of cancer in 2013 will be 1,660,290. There …show more content…
The physician may prescribe the strongest medication to fight the nausea and it will be obvious that the medication is helping. The nausea subsides and the number of times the patient throws up becomes less and less. The patient may lose their hair from the chemo, but the day the patient gets a wig that just enhances their natural good looks is one that can be labeled as bittersweet. The nurses in the chemo room get to know the patient and the caregiver and they may begin to make comments about how much better the patient is looking. At some point the patient finally says, “I actually think I can beat this!” Then the caregiver can only shout, “Hallelujah!” Within the last two or three treatments some tests are run and they show that the patient is clear from cancer. The chemo may be continued through the scheduled number of treatments as a safeguard, but it becomes very obvious that the loved one’s cancer is now in a state of remission. At that point, it becomes just as hard to hold in the exuberance as it had been to hold in the frustration. Then comes the great day when the patient finishes chemo and can ring the bell of victory. Most chemotherapy treatment centers have a bell of some sort outside their facility. It is rung to symbolize completion of treatment and victory over the cancer. When a patient is able to ring that bell, joy unspeakable fills the heart and …show more content…
Unfortunately, the statistics show that it is very likely that some who read this will have to do so. To those who must endure it, the shocks and frustrations can be extremely hard. Staying strong and helping the patient as much as possible and just being by his or her side will produce rewards. Those rewards may be few and far between, but they cumulatively lead up to the cancer’s remission and the loved one’s victory over that dreaded disease. Then the caregiver too can ring that