If you are caring for someone with head and neck cancer, you may be at higher risk for caregiver burnout than other groups of cancer caregivers.
A 2023 study in JAMA Network Open found that caregivers of people suffering from head and neck cancer are at higher risk for their own negative health impacts than caregivers of people with other types of diseases. This is probably due to the intense nature of head and neck cancer.
Seth Eisenberg, president of PAIRS Foundationwho suffered from head and neck cancer seven years ago, said the stress of watching someone go through the challenges of this type of cancer, which often affects eating, breathing and speaking, can be particularly distressing for a caregiver.
The intense burden of the disease can also prevent patients from being able to work, and the JAMA study found that patient unemployment increased the odds of caregiver burnout six times. This is probably because the inability to work generally means that more time is needed to provide care and/or that cancer symptoms are more severe, which can mean a greater care burden.
Altered schedules, financial challenges, lack of family support, their own health problems, and low self-esteem can all contribute to caregiver burnout. And caregiver burnout can lead to serious health consequences, including anxiety, depression, heart complications, lack of sleep, and fatigue.
Here are four tips for self-care when caring for someone with head and neck cancer.
1. Request training from a medical team as soon as possible.
Caregiver burnout tends to develop within the first six months after diagnosis and can increase very quickly. One of the best strategies for dealing with caregiver burnout may be to take steps to prevent it in the first place. If possible, seek hands-on training from a medical team as soon as possible after diagnosis who can assist with head and neck cancer care tasks.
TO 2023 Survey in Oncology Nursingof family caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer found that getting help with the practical aspects of caring for this type of cancer is hugely important. Family members or loved ones are asked to take on highly technical nursing tasks, such as tracheotomy medical care, tube feeding and pain management, as well as managing the emotional and mental needs of the patient.
Caring for a patient with head and neck cancer comes with many challenges, but making sure you understand the practical basics of the medical care you need to provide can help alleviate some of the psychological distress and emotional burden that can worsen caregiver burnout.
2. Talk to an employer about care accommodations
One thing that all the research on the impacts of head and neck cancer on caregiving points to is the pressure on caregivers’ employment. Trying to balance the needs of caregiving with your own employment can be a recipe for quick burnout.
If possible, caregivers should talk to their employers to request reasonable accommodations or even caregiving leave, especially in the early days of caregiving, when the learning curve can be especially steep. Eisenberg also notes that there are specific cancer care grants and financial assistance programs that caregivers can apply for that can help alleviate some of the financial burden.
3. Set up self-care
It may seem like another burden on a to-do list, but being intentional about self-care can help soften the impacts of caregiver burnout. While self-care may seem selfish or even a waste of time when there is so much to do, even a small amount of self-care can significantly decrease the risk of health impacts from caregiving.
Self-care doesn’t have to be a huge effort either. Some examples of self-care include:
- Daily movement, such as exercise or walking.
- Therapy
- Advice
- Proper nutrition
- Talk to friends or loved ones
- Free time to enjoy your hobbies.
- keep a diary
- meditating
- Scheduling medical checkups and wellness visits.
4. Find support
Again, finding support may seem like just another task on a caregiver’s to-do list, but it can also make a vital difference to both your physical and mental health. Some resources to find support include:
- Ask a social worker for resources
- Attend virtual or in-person therapy
- Find a support group for in-person care
- Leaning on friends and family
- Finding online support groups for cancer caregivers
- Apply for financial assistance or assistance programs for cancer care
- Sign up for a local meal delivery program, whether community-based or paid
- Use transportation assistance if necessary
“Don’t hesitate to ask family, friends or professional caregivers for help,” Eisenberg said. “Delegating tasks can reduce the burden and give caregivers a much-needed respite.”
This educational resource was created with the support of Daiichi Sankyo and Merck.
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