Caring for someone with head and neck cancer may put you at a higher risk of burnout than caregivers of people with other types of cancer.
A 2023 study in JAMA Network Open found that caregivers of individuals with head and neck cancer are at a higher risk of negative health impacts than caregivers of other cancer types. This is possibly due to the intense nature of head and neck cancer.
Seth Eisenberg, president of the PAIRS Foundation, who battled head and neck cancer seven years ago, stated that the stress of witnessing someone face the challenges of this type of cancer, which often affects feeding, breathing, and speech, can be particularly distressing for a caregiver.
This intense burden of the disease can also lead to patients being unable to work, and the JAMA study determined that patient unemployment increases caregivers’ burnout chances sixfold. This may be due to the need for more caregiving time or more severe cancer symptoms, both of which can contribute to a heavier caregiving load.
Factors such as disrupted schedules, financial difficulties, lack of family support, their own medical issues, and reduced self-esteem can contribute to caregiver burnout. And burnout can lead to serious medical impacts for the caregiver, such as distress, depression, heart complications, sleep deprivation, and fatigue.
Here are 4 tips for self-care if you are caring for someone with head and neck cancer.
1. Ask for training from a medical team as soon as possible
Caregiver burnout tends to occur within the first six months after diagnosis and can escalate rapidly. One of the best strategies to deal with caregiver burnout could be to implement measures to prevent it. If possible, ask for practical training from a medical team, as soon as possible after diagnosis, that will be helpful in relation to tasks related to caring for someone with head and neck cancer.
A 2023 survey from Cancer Nursing of family caregivers of head and neck cancer patients determined that getting help with the practical aspects of caring for this type of cancer is crucial. Family members or loved ones are tasked with handling highly technical nursing duties such as tracheostomy care, tube feeding, and pain relief, as well as addressing the emotional and mental needs of the patient.
Caring for individuals with head and neck cancer presents many challenges, but ensuring you understand the practical fundamentals of the medical care you need to provide can help alleviate the psychological distress and emotional burden that can worsen caregiver burnout.
2. Talk to your employer about assistance accommodations
One common theme in research about the impacts of head and neck cancer caregiving is the occupational detriment to caregivers. Balancing the caregiving needs with your own job requirements can lead to rapid burnout.
If possible, caregivers should speak with their employers to request any reasonable accommodations or even leave allowances to provide assistance, especially in the early days of caregiving when much is being learned. Eisenberg also mentions that there are specific assistance and financial aid programs for caregivers of cancer patients that can be applied for, which can help alleviate some financial burdens.
3. Implement self-care
It might seem like an added burden on a to-do list, but intentionally establishing self-care routines can help cushion the impact of caregiver burnout. While self-care may seem selfish or a waste of time when you have so much on your plate, even a little self-care can significantly reduce the risk of health impacts from caregiving.
Self-care doesn’t have to be a huge effort. Some examples of self-care include:
- Daily movement, such as exercise or a walk
- Therapy
- Counseling
- Proper nutrition
- Talking to friends or loved ones
- Rest time to enjoy hobbies
- Journaling
- Meditating
- Scheduling medical check-ups and consultations for your well-being
4. Find support
Seeking support may feel like another task on a caregiver’s to-do list, but it can also make a vital difference to your mental and physical health. Some resources for finding support include:
- Requesting resources from a social worker
- Attending virtual or in-person therapies
- Finding an in-person support group for caregivers
- Getting support from friends and family
- Seeking out online support groups for cancer caregivers
- Applying to caregiver assistance or financial support programs for cancer patients
- Enrolling in a local meal delivery program, whether community-based or a paid service
- Using transportation assistance if needed
“Do not hesitate to ask for help from family, friends, or professional caregivers,” Eisenberg said. “Delegating tasks can reduce the burden and provide much-needed relief to caregivers.”
This educational resource was prepared with the support of Daiichi Sankyo and Merck.
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