The responsibility rests with patients to contact CANSA for assistance. Read more...
Caregiving and Cancer
Caregivers play an integral role in their cancer patient or loved one’s journey. They are the soldiers fighting behind the scenes for their patients or loved ones.
We salute your commitment and determination to care, regardless of what may be required of you, and we want you to know that we are here for you, because you need support too.
We know that most Caregivers don’t choose this role, but it is one that is suddenly thrown upon their shoulders when a family member, loved one or colleague is diagnosed with cancer and urgently needs support and care. No first-time caregiver knows what to do, as no journey with cancer is the same and there are no rules and regulations to follow, however CANSA is able to offer knowledge, information, support and encouragement whenever required.
At times compassion fatigue sets in where the Caregiver no longer cares for themselves. Known as ‘Caregiver Burnout’, this condition is the culmination of stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and low self-esteem. It is essential that this is dealt with sooner rather than later.
Top Tips for Caregivers:
- Find support and talk to others who are in a similar situation. This can help you cope with common feelings of anger, guilt, isolation, fear, sadness, or anticipatory grief.
- Know when you are stressed and learn the signs of your stress that may include feeling exhausted, getting sick more often, sleeplessness, impatience, irritability and forgetfulness.
- Take time out and make time for yourself and others. Although a person with cancer has many needs that require your attention, just remember you do too, so spend time doing something you enjoy, with the people you love.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be kind and patient with yourself and remember it’s normal to experience occasional bouts of anger or frustration, along with the guilt of having those feelings. Search for a positive way to deal with these feelings.
- Take care of yourself. Make time to exercise, eat healthy foods, stay hydrated, and get enough sleep.
- Stay positive. Having an optimistic attitude helps set the tone for everything you do and take on.
Infographic – Tips to Avoid Burnout
Fact Sheet – Guidelines for Caregivers on Taking Care of Themselves
Patient Rights and Rights of Caregivers
Guide for Palliative Care at Home
We recognise that Caregiving is very stressful, and we have created a Facebook Support Group CANSA Caring for the Caregivers to enable Caregivers to meet with others in a similar position and to share caregiving tips / advice and caregiving highs and lows. There are also online resources which Caregivers may share with their loved one or patient.
Dominique Forbes-Rose (Caregiver) says of caregiving, “In many ways it is a very lonely journey. It is just as traumatising for the carer, as for the cancer patient. You give so much of yourself to look after your loved one, you have no time to look after yourself. And with that, you don’t want to worry the patient about everything that you are taking care of behind the scenes, because they need to focus on getting healthy. It is probably the toughest mental wellness journey you can ever go through, and you need a support network to help you. I am so grateful that CANSA has a platform of support for us carers – it is so important to get that support.”
CANSA also offers support through counselling and training on how to support a patients. You can also enquire about our community home based care, CANSA Care Homes for patients receiving treatment far from home and CANSA Care Rooms providing respite care. We can also assist your loved one or patient with dietary tips; stoma care and affordable quality products; advice regarding lymphoedema management; breast prostheses and bras; adult incontinence wear, wigs (natural or synthetic); medical equipment hire and assistive devices.
Contact your local CANSA Care Centre for more information.
CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 25 June 2022
Join the CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group on 25 June 2022 from 9 00 to 10 00…
Read morePublished: 24 Jun 2022 | Last Updated: 27 Jun 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
CANSA Pain Manager App for better Quality of Life
As part of International Cancer Survivors’ Day, CANSA launches a free CANSA Pain Manager app, in association with the Centre of Community Technology at Nelson Mandela University (CCT), sponsored by Pfizer. It’s in the format of a diary or calendar allowing the patient / caregiver to input relevant information such as logging pain experienced daily and allows input reminders of medication schedule / dosage and appointments.
Read morePublished: 1 Jun 2022 | Last Updated: 5 Jun 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, CANSA Highlights, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News, Men's Health, Women's Health
CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group – 28 May 2022
Join the CANSA Men Supporting Men Cancer Support group on 28 May 2022 | 09:00-10:00
Read morePublished: 23 May 2022 | Last Updated: 24 Jun 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
Palliative Care for Cancer Patients – What We Should Know
Any patient can request palliative care! It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided alongside potentially curative treatment…
Read morePublished: 2 May 2022 | Last Updated: 14 Jun 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, CANSA's Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) Programme, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health
CANSA Collaborates with Alignd to Increase Access to Palliative Care
CANSA has partnered with Alignd, a value-based care and patient-centric organisation working with medical schemes to improve access to and cover for palliative care from diagnosis of serious cancer…
Read morePublished: 2 May 2022 | Last Updated: 6 May 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Advocacy, Beyond Diagnosis & Treatment, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health
Men Supporting Men Support Group for Cancer Patients – 19 March 2022
Male cancer patients finally have the opportunity to meet each other and share in a safe space. Male cancer patients are invited to join the next support group meeting via Zoom: Saturday, 19 March 2022…
Read morePublished: 17 Mar 2022 | Last Updated: 22 Mar 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
CANSA – Guardian of Cancer Patients’ Human Rights
On 21 March, Human Rights’ Day is celebrated coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, that enshrines the rights of all people in South Africa and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) upholds and helps protect the human rights of cancer patients, by speaking on behalf of patients through its Advocacy and Service departments and facilitating improved access to medication, treatment and palliative care…
Read morePublished: 16 Mar 2022 | Last Updated: 19 May 2022
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, About CANSA, Advocacy, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Media Releases & News
Webinar – World Cancer Day Patient and Caregiver Forum (3 February 2022)
Cancer is a debilitating disease and can place an enormous physical, emotional, social, and financial burden on the people providing long-term, continuous care for affected patients. Join us for our third online webinar, in recognition of World Cancer Day in February. Brought to you by Novartis, Rare Diseases South Africa (RDSA), in association with CANSA, The Breast Health Foundation and Meta Buddies, would like to invite all caregivers, patients and those advocating to bridge the gap for patient care to join us as we discuss these challenges…
Read morePublished: 23 Jan 2022 | Last Updated: 4 Feb 2022
Categories: CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, World Cancer Day - 4 Feb
Launch – Men Supporting Men Support Group for Cancer Patients
Male cancer patients finally have the opportunity to meet each other and share in a safe space. Male cancer patients are invited to join the first support group meeting via Zoom on Saturday, 27 November 2021 at 9:00 to 10:30….
Read morePublished: 26 Nov 2021 | Last Updated: 6 Dec 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health
Webinar – Talking Lung Cancer 11 November 2021
A round table discussion via Zoom took place on Thursday, 11 November 2021, featuring a cancer patient; Dr Poovan Govender, Oncologist, and a palliative care nurse, Zodwa Sithole (CANSA Head of Advocacy), and caregiver, Christa Matthee – recording now available…
Read morePublished: 9 Nov 2021 | Last Updated: 16 Nov 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, No-Tobacco Campaign, Types of cancer
National Virtual CANSA Netcare Support Group – 23 October 2021
View Support Group Session held on Saturday, 23 Oct 2021 from 10:00 – 11:30. Topic: Management and Care after a Mastectomy….
Read morePublished: 20 Oct 2021 | Last Updated: 28 Oct 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Women's Health
Webinar – Talking Stoma on World Ostomy Day
On Saturday, 2 October 2021, World Ostomy Day, CANSA hosted an informative webinar with experts in this field discussing topics ranging from care, intimacy, underwear, nutrition to support, as well as CANSA’s stoma service offering and Tele Stoma counselling…
Read morePublished: 28 Sep 2021 | Last Updated: 8 Oct 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer, Men's Health, Women's Health
Zoom – CANSA Netcare Virtual National Support Group Meeting – 25 September 2021
The National Virtual CANSA Netcare Support Group took place on Saturday, 25 September 2021, where Sandy Lewis of Netcare discussed ‘Mental Resilience during Cancer’- recording available…
Read morePublished: 14 Sep 2021 | Last Updated: 5 Oct 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer
Cancer Patients and the COVID Vaccine
Dr Ria David educates us on the current recommendation for cancer patients getting the COVID vaccine…
Read morePublished: 29 Jun 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer
Guidelines for Palliative Home Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Click here for a collection of evolving resources that has been created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support health professionals facing decisions around discharging COVID-19 positive patients’ home for palliative or end of life care, and the families of those patients onto whom the care burden will fall. Although difficult decisions will need to be […]
Read morePublished: 22 Apr 2021 | Last Updated: 20 Aug 2021
Categories: Advocacy, Caregiving and Cancer
Let’s Get Chatty About How to Support a Friend who has Cancer
Our partner, Evy Michalopoulos at Filotimo Cancer Project, and CANSA’s Prof Michael Herbst chatted via Zoom on Wednesday, 17 March at 15h00 about how to support friends or a loved one with cancer.
Read morePublished: 17 Mar 2021 | Last Updated: 18 Mar 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, CANSA Webinars, Caregiving and Cancer
Spousal Caregiving & Burnout
Charmaine Stumke, shares her journey as caregiver to her husband Len…
Read morePublished: 24 Feb 2020 | Last Updated: 24 Feb 2020
Categories: Caregiving and Cancer
His Diagnosis Changed Our Lives
Anjolien Brink, shares how both her and her husband, Stephan’s lives changed through his skin cancer diagnosis and how they coped at the time…
Read morePublished: 21 Feb 2020 | Last Updated: 21 Feb 2020
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer
Coping with Cancer – Benefits of Joining a CANSA Support Group
Cancer Survivors (patients / those in remission), Caregivers and loved ones may be fearful of sharing how they truly feel, as they fear misunderstanding and rejection. However, there are clear benefits to joining a support group, whether face-to-face or online, which may make it worth the risk. CANSA offers face-to-face and online support groups…
Read morePublished: 28 Jun 2018 | Last Updated: 11 Mar 2021
Categories: A Loved One has Cancer, Caregiving and Cancer, I have Cancer
Published: 30 Aug 2017 | Last Updated: 11 Mar 2021
Categories: Caregiving and Cancer
Published: 30 Aug 2017 | Last Updated: 11 Mar 2021
Categories: Caregiving and Cancer
Do you have a question?
Ask CANSABook a counselling session
