A co-survivor is anyone who lends support, or is a caregiver, to someone with cancer, from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. As a caregiver, you are not alone. 2.8 million U.S. adults provide care for a person with cancer. 76% of those caregivers report helping their loved one with treatment/illness symptoms and 61% report helping with keeping up with medications. Co-survivors report helping with a number of tasks, including:
- Medical appointment coordination
- Transportation
- Home and lawn maintenance
- Grocery shopping
- Meal preparation
- Finances
- Activities of daily living
- Outside service coordination
- Family coordination
- Patient self-care
- Health forms
- Emotional and spiritual support
- Care decisions
- Advance care planning
- Proxy/Power of Attorney decisions
- After-death tasks
We understand at Forge how difficult it can be to be a caregiver to someone with a breast cancer diagnosis. That is why we provide support and resources for you, too.
Useful Videos:
Forge Coffee Conversation: Being a male co-survivor/caregiver
If you would like to be matched with a fellow caregiver who understands what you are going through or other resources, like free mental health counseling, please contact our Client Services Coordinator, Janet Dees, at (205) 990-5367 or [email protected]. Si hablas español y quieres más información, por favor contacta a Ana Emaldi, al (205) 990-5375 O al [email protected].
Source: Forge partner, Nick Dionne-Odom, RN, PhD, at UAB School of Nursing.