Cancer Caregiving A to Z

Book excerpt: "The role of caregiver in cancer care has expanded tremendously in recent years. People with cancer are living longer, and many cancer treatments once done in a hospital are now performed in an outpatient setting. In addition, hospital patients may be discharged early, often while they still are experiencing pain, discomfort, or other side effects from treatment. Caregivers at home suddenly have to perform tasks traditionally done by nurses, such as administering medications, monitoring symptoms, and hooking up intravenous antibiotics. Yet they have no formal training for the job. Whether the caregiver is a spouse, partner, adult child, or friend, this person fills an exceptional role--one the requires compassion and strength, as well as knowledge about health care issues. Cancer Caregiving A to Z was written by experts at the American Cancer Society to provide caregivers the knowledge they need to make the right decisions for loved ones who are recovering from cancer and the effects of cancer treatments"--Page 4 of cover.