An Honest Caregiving Story
websitebuilder • February 29, 2020
Lea Grover and her then fiance had been engaged for less than a day when he suffered a seizure that led to the diagnosis of glioblastoma.
He became part of the 25% who survive a year with this type of brain cancer, then part of the 5% who survive more than 5 years. 12 years later, he has had to undergo multiple types of treatment, and multiple surgeries, each getting more difficult to cope with and harder to bounce back from.
With three children and a career, Lea shares the struggles of being a caregiver for someone you love, while coping with your own emotions and those of your children.
For anyone in a similar situation, know that you are not alone.
Learn more about the support that The Beloved Foundation offers by reaching out.
Alex Trebek, must loved host of Jeopardy!, has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Earlier this month he spoke candidly about how he has been doing since he diagnosis a year ago. He also talks about how happy he is to have reached the one year survival marker, which only 18% of those who are diagnosed reach.
Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the United States. Rates are rising every year despite general knowledge of risk factors and precautions to take also rising.
"I never think of you as someone who had cancer" was said to Liza Bernstein after multiple cancer diagnoses. Later, during her third experience with cancer, in a haze of exhaustion and despair, she realized that it was impossible for cancer not to be a part of her identity. She asked herself, "Why should I cower in the denial of my experience because it inconveniences others?" From that moment, Liza decided to use her experiences and her identity for good, to help others. And she has continued to do just that since that moment in time.
When Mia Brister was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, she was only 24 years old. She was in a great place in life and couldn't believe when doctors in the emergency room told her they had found tumors in her scan.
Traditionally, it's been left to the family of a person who has died to write an obituary and create any memorial videos or mementos. But a new trend has emerged that has those who are ill creating their own videos, speeches and obituaries to be used.
"Compassion Fatigue is a term used to describe a state that is experienced by all types of caregivers, after giving to the point of exhaustion and debilitation."
Caregiving can be exhausting both mentally and physically. It can be hard to find time for a caregiver to take care of themselves, but even a few minutes can make a big difference on emotional well being.
Many who have been diagnosed with cancer want to, or may even need to continue working during treatment. For many, this is a distinct possibility and can be made easier with some accommodations.
A beautiful piece by a caregiver reminding us that caregivers are already strong. They don't need to be told they need to 'be strong'. The inner strength it takes to care for a loved one going through cancer can't be measured in pounds or inches.
For years, the results of photodynamic therapy have stumped clinicians. In the cancer treatment, light is used to destroy malignant cells. But one of the side effects is strange: patients are often better able to see in the dark.