Cancer Caregiver Stories: Spouse Perspective
One type of cancer personal caregiver is the spouse of the patient. Living with the person who’s been diagnosed means a lot of life changes for the partner, who has to navigate life after a diagnosis as much as the patient.
Hear directly from spouses and partners of former cancer patients about their own experience, from processing a diagnosis through undergoing treatment and side effects.
»MORE: 3 Things To Remember If Your Spouse Is Diagnosed With Cancer
Spouse Caregiver Stories
Willie Williams, Spouse of Thyroid Cancer Patient (Metastatic)
“If you volunteer, just make sure you can be there. Be whatever they need you to be, but don’t force yourself into a situation because that can be really frustrating.”...
“If you volunteer, just make sure you can be there. Be whatever they need you to be, but don’t force yourself into a situation because that can be really frustrating.”...
Dr. Heather Paulson
Naturopathic Doctor: Part of integrative cancer care, help with complementary therapies
Experience: 15 years
Treatment Center: Integrative Clinic
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Nicole Bhat, Spouse of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patient (Refractory)
“If you can't take care of yourself, you can't take are of anyone else.”...
“If you can't take care of yourself, you can't take are of anyone else.”...
Barbara Kivowitz, Caregiver Expert & Author
“A critical ingredient we need throughout our lives in all circumstances is hope. Hope can exist and persist even when a cure is not possible. You can attach hope to anything.”...
“A critical ingredient we need throughout our lives in all circumstances is hope. Hope can exist and persist even when a cure is not possible. You can attach hope to anything.”...
Lisa Matthews, Spouse to Prostate Cancer Patient
"It’s just that tough. It’s scary and difficult, and you need to give each other some space, but also give each other that support and love."
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Esther Schorr's Cancer Caregiver Story
"You need to take care of yourself as well as you take care of the person that you love so much who's going through it."...
"You need to take care of yourself as well as you take care of the person that you love so much who's going through it."...
Joe T., Spouse of ALL Cancer Patient
"You've got to take care of yourself to take care of your patient. You've got to. You're not infinite. You're not just a well of giving."...
Kelsey K., Spouse of ALL Cancer Patient
"Caregivers need caregivers. It never ends. We all needed each other."...
Marsha Calloway-Campbell, Spouse of Myeloma Patient
"Once you are taking care of someone with myeloma, be their advocate because it’s a journey. It can be challenging at times so they need somebody."...
Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment
Dr. Fumiko Chino opens up about her late husband’s diagnosis and the financial toll it had on them.
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Carley G., Spouse of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patient
“If your glass is empty, you can’t fill anyone else’s and that’s something that I wish I would have done more of.”...