November is National Caregiver Month

It’s (way past) time to give a shout out to all those unsung heroes of the cancer journey: caregivers. The transportation, medication management, meals and more they provide is love in action. While caregiving for a cancer patient is a big job, there are ways to make it more manageable. Here are some top tips for caregivers.

• Take care of yourself first. If you’re not healthy, it’s hard to help others to be.
• Ask for help, accept offers of help, and keep a list of specific ways people can help.
• Keep good medical records, notes and questions you have for providers. There are even apps for that! Try this website for a list of good ones! 
• Take advantage of support systems, such as Cancer Pathways (formerly Gilda’s Club) and Caregiver Action Network.