Understanding the Survivor’s Experience

As a caregiver, it can be difficult to understand all the physical, mental, emotional, and practical changes a cancer survivor is experiencing throughout their journey. Anticipating the various challenges faced by survivors can help you react better as a caregiver. It is important to be aware of common unmet needs among cancer survivors - anxiety, neuropathy, or ‘chemobrain’, for example – as well as more complex issues - employment rights and benefits or health insurance coverage - in order to equip yourself to help minimize such difficulties.

There is an abundance of information available online, including blogs, discussion forums, and interactive websites from nationally-recognized survivorship organizations that can help you better understand this complex journey of survivorship. Below is a list of several organizations that may be helpful to you:

• American Cancer Society
• American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• LIVESTRONG Foundation
• National Cancer Institute
• National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship