Things I Wish I'd Known

<p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Updated 2023; Family caregivers are the unsung heroes of the life-saving drama that's triggered by a cancer diagnosis. Nearly three quarters of American households will find themselves caring for a cancer patient at one point in their lives. This book is the first to capture their thoughts feelings and insights on a large scale. It is based on 101 formal interviews with non-professional caregivers (some of whom are cancer survivors themselves) covering 122 patients in 19 states and Canada who ranged in age from 2 to 92 and faced 40 different cancer diagnoses. Practical lessons drawn from caregivers' experiences are intermingled with their own words to forge a compelling narrative intended to help both patients and their family caregivers to understand and cope with the full range of issues they should anticipate as they fight the battle of their lives.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>The lessons provide building blocks on which you can rely as you participate in decision-making and plan for the future. You will learn about cancer caregiver considerations in:</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Getting a clear cancer diagnosis</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Gathering information about the cancer diagnosis</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Choosing cancer treatment partners</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Making cancer treatment decisions (including complementary and </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>         alternative treatments and palliative care)</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Getting inside the cancer caregiving role (including questions to ask on doctor visits)</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Accessing available cancer information and treatment resources (including clinical trials)</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Managing cancer-related financial and legal issues</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Seeking normalcy during cancer treatment</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Confronting cancer-related issues facing families with children </span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>          (children in a household with cancer and children as patients)</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Managing cancer caregiver emotions and health</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Nearing life's end from cancer</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>      Preparing for the aftermath (including how cancer caregivers heal)</span></p>