Fighting cancer can be such a long road. Being a caregiver for a spouse with cancer requires stamina we are rarely prepared for. There are so many ups and downs. One week your husband is doing fine and feeling better. The next week, something comes up, and you’re back in the hospital getting more testsContinue reading ““My Husband Has Cancer, and I Want to Leave””
Tag Archives: Spouse with Cancer
Coaching Versus Therapy: How to Know What’s Right For You as a Caregiver
If you’re here, you’re probably wondering, “Do I need therapy or a life coach?” Your partner has cancer, and you feel overwhelmed, exhausted, lonely, and stuck. You realize you need to get some support for yourself, but where do you turn? Should you find a therapist or life coach? What’s the difference between coaching andContinue reading “Coaching Versus Therapy: How to Know What’s Right For You as a Caregiver”
How to Encourage Someone with Cancer & Believe in Their Strength Regardless
Knowing what to say to a cancer patient is one thing. Knowing what to say to a cancer patient who is also your partner can be even more challenging. You love them and want nothing more than to see them better. But if you’re also your partner’s caregiver, you have to take on that roleContinue reading “How to Encourage Someone with Cancer & Believe in Their Strength Regardless”
Tips for Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Spouse with Cancer
When your partner is battling cancer, it impacts both of you, but in very different ways. You may notice changes in your partner’s behavior and emotional state as they cope with the disease and treatment. They may act in ways that are difficult to understand. And as their partner and caregiver, this can be confusingContinue reading “Tips for Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Spouse with Cancer”
Cancer and Anger: How to Deal with Your Spouse’s Anger During Their Cancer Journey
One day in July, my husband scheduled a visit to the doctor to have his shoulder examined after he hurt it in a bad fall. That is when we discovered he had a cancerous tumor in his arm. It came as such a shock to both of us. Overnight, our lives turned upside down, andContinue reading “Cancer and Anger: How to Deal with Your Spouse’s Anger During Their Cancer Journey”
“My Spouse Has Cancer and is Pushing Me Away”
“My spouse has cancer and is pushing me away.” This comes up frequently during coaching. Being pushed away by someone with cancer is a common occurrence, and you might feel like your spouse has become withdrawn when they are coping with a cancer diagnosis. Each person’s experience will be a little different. As my husband’sContinue reading ““My Spouse Has Cancer and is Pushing Me Away””
How Cancer Affects Families & 5 Ways to Deal with Difficult Family Members in Healthcare
Your partner’s cancer impacts you and the rest of your family. Because of this, you’ll likely be faced with updating family members, dealing with everyone’s questions, and hearing opinions and offers to help. It can be a blessing. But it can also be an added source of stress if you have to deal with difficultContinue reading “How Cancer Affects Families & 5 Ways to Deal with Difficult Family Members in Healthcare”
What to Do for Someone Going through Chemo: Helping Your Spouse During Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, or “chemo,” as most people call it, is a common treatment for many types of cancer. One of the side effects of some chemo treatments is that it takes a significant toll on the recipient, both physically and emotionally. It can be hard to watch your spouse go through chemo and feel like thereContinue reading “What to Do for Someone Going through Chemo: Helping Your Spouse During Chemotherapy”
6 Tips for Finding Balance When Your Partner Has Cancer and Life Feels Out of Control
Your partner has cancer, and now your life feels totally out of control. Gone are all the plans you had for the future. Now, it’s hard to know what to expect from one day to the next. It can feel like riding a roller coaster you never wanted to get on in the first place! Continue reading “6 Tips for Finding Balance When Your Partner Has Cancer and Life Feels Out of Control”
How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout When Caring for Your Spouse with Cancer
Burnout. We hear the term all the time, but what does it mean exactly? Burnout is “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” If any part of that definition strikes home, you may be close to or already experiencing caregiver burnout. My husband battled cancer for 5 years.Continue reading “How to Avoid Caregiver Burnout When Caring for Your Spouse with Cancer”