Part 1: The importance of carers

It may be helpful to map out who will be involved in providing care for the patient. A diagram, like the one below, can help you see your loved one’s caregiving team

Example: Lucy’s caregiving team

Lucy has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is divorced with two adult children.

Primary carer / main support person:

• Lucy’s son, Andrew attends most appointments and helps Lucy with researching treatments, making appointments, and arranges transport for Lucy when she has treatment.

Close support people:

• Lucy’s daughter Zoe (who lives 2 hours away) attends appointments when Andrew is away and sometimes accompanies Lucy to chemotherapy sessions.
• Lucy’s sister Harriet stays at Lucy’s house after she has had chemotherapy to help

Other family / friends who can offer support:

• Lucy’s nieces and nephews check in on Lucy from time to time. Lucy’s colleagues A few colleagues from Lucy’s work check in on her every week or so, and sometimes visit and keep her company.
• Neighbours Lucy’s next-door neighbor collected Lucy’s mail and feed her cat when Lucy had to stay in hospital after her surgery.
• Tennis club Friends from Lucy’s tennis club have made a meal roster and drop in on weekends with home-made meals when Lucy is undergoing treatment.

Your family member's caregiving team

Have a think about who currently is, or could be, a part of your loved one’s caregiving team. Add members to the team by filling in the table below. You will be able to download this table once you have finished when you have finished filling it in.

It is important to note that some people are reluctant to include many people in their caregiving team. Karen, who was diagnosed with rectal cancer, recalls “At first, I thought I should do everything myself. Or at least, only have Tony my husband helping me. But I realised there were people who really wanted to help, and it made them feel good by helping. So I let them”.

Ultimately, it is up to the person with cancer who they want included in their care.