Patch Blog: Cancer Caregiver, What That Role Means to Me

Hi,

It's Beth again.

Now that the week of Relay for Life of Arcadia is finally here, let's talk caregivers. By definition, a caregiver is: "A person providing treatment or support to a sick, disabled, or dependent individual. One who contributes the benefits of medical, social, economic, or environmental resources to a dependent or partially dependent individual, such as a critically ill person."

Have you ever lived with, worked with, lived next to, or conversed with anyone diagnosed with cancer? Chances are you've held the position of caregiver.

My roll as caregiver started at too early an age. When I was 22, I lost my dad to lung cancer. He was diagnosed months after I had moved to Texas for employment. During my last visit home prior to losing him, my sister, nephew and I took dad to the movies. We gave him a silly hat, like fishermen wear, to cover his balding head. He truly enjoyed the movie (The parts he was awake for. Treatments left him tired) and loved the red licorice we shared.

This also gave my mom, my hero and his 24/7 caregiver, a short break.

I have since been a caregiver to a co-worker with breast cancer, a close friend with multiple cancers and my mom who had breast cancer. If you've lent an ear to someone with cancer, you're a caregiver. If you've given a cancer patient a ride to treatment, you're a caregiver. If you've spent 24/7 living with a cancer patient, you're a caregiver. If you've just been there for someone with cancer, you're a caregiver.

If you've been touched by Cancer join me for an amazing experience. Saturday at 11 a.m. we will start our 24 hour Relay for Life of Arcadia. Since cancer never sleeps we don't sleep.

Please participte with us as we Celebrate Survivors & Caregivers! Remember those we have lost! Fight back against Cancer. I hope to meet you at Relay!

- Beth