For Care Givers

What to Expect

Will the person with cancer have physical changes?
How will the person's emotions be affected?
How do people cope with cancer?

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Ways to Respond

What should I say to the person who has cancer?
What about confidentiality?
A list of basic do's and don'ts

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What if the Cancer Returns?

In some cases, the cancer will come back (recur) and treatment will begin again. The person with cancer may or may not react in the same way they did the first time. Again, communication is the key. Many people are quite upset when they learn they have a recurrence. They may feel they don't have the emotional or physical reserves to fight the battle again. Others seem to accept a recurrence more easily. They may have expected it or are simply ready, for whatever reasons, to fight again. By equipping yourself with the knowledge of how best to talk to the person with cancer, you can be most helpful to them.

Good Nutrition

Good nutrition is especially important if you have cancer because the illness itself, as well as its treatments, can affect your appetite. Cancer and cancer treatments can also affect your body's ability to tolerate certain foods and to use nutrients.

The nutrient needs of people with cancer vary from person to person. Your doctor, nurses, and a registered dietitian can help you identify your nutrition goals and plan ways to help you meet them. Eating well while you are being treated for cancer can help you:

• feel better
• keep up your strength and energy 
• keep up your weight and your body’s store of nutrients 
• tolerate treatment-related side effects 
• lower your risk of infection 
• heal and recover quickly

Eating well means eating a variety of foods that will give you the nutrients you need to protect your health while fighting cancer. These nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins, and minerals.

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