Supporting Your Loved One Through Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Cancer itself and treatments for cancer can cause a number of symptoms and side effects that often deeply impact daily life. For caregivers, it is not uncommon to feel helpless when the person you care for is suffering from frequent symptoms like pain or fatigue. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help your loved one manage these side effects.

Monitoring changes to symptoms and side effects

It is important to track any new or changing symptoms. Report them to your loved one’s healthcare team as soon as possible. As a caregiver, it can be helpful to keep a detailed log of when these symptoms occur and their severity. You may also notice useful patterns about when and why your loved one experiences some of these effects. For instance, you may realize that your loved one has more energy during the first few hours after they wake up. You can use this insight to help them prioritize more demanding tasks during that time frame.

How to manage cancer treatment side effects at home

Dealing with fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. Getting moving can help to alleviate some fatigue and improve energy levels. First, talk to the healthcare team about safe exercise levels. Then, you can plan regular activities for your loved one to exercise within their limits. This can be something as simple as scheduling a daily walk around the neighborhood or participating in a gentle exercise class together.¹

You can also help plan scheduled times for rest and encourage your loved one to take breaks when needed. Simply reminding your loved one that fatigue is normal and that it is okay to ask for help can go a long way.

Pain management

Some types of cancer can cause pain, while some people may experience pain as a side effect from cancer treatment. Encourage your loved one to be honest with their healthcare team about their amount of pain and discomfort, as some people may feel ashamed or embarrassed to say they are in pain. Track pain using a severity scale, noting how long it lasts and what it feels like (such as sharp or dull). This can help to better convey pain levels to providers.²

People can react differently to different types of pain medication. If you are local, help the patient walk or drive until you know how any new pain medications or new doses impact them, as some people may experience dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion. Encourage the person to drink a lot of fluids and eat fiber-filled foods to minimize constipation, which is a common side effect of pain medicine. Warm washcloths or cool packs may also help, but talk to the doctor first if the skin has been exposed to radiation.²

Memory loss and mental fogginess (chemo brain)

Treatment for cancer can sometimes lead to cognitive challenges, including memory and concentration problems, often referred to as chemo brain. It can be helpful to encourage the use of tools like a daily planner or a phone app to keep track of appointments and medications.

Create a binder for your loved one. Include up-to-date medication lists, healthcare team contact information, and all appointment notes. This helps them stay organized when memory problems make it difficult to track a lot of information. Encourage them to write down questions and notes, or write things down yourself. This shows your loved one that it is okay to not rely on memory.³

While it can be frustrating and time-consuming to support a loved one who is experiencing forgetfulness or struggling with cognitive challenges, maintaining your patience and helping your loved one develop routines for daily tasks can make things easier for both of you. For example, setting up a basket for placing keys and a wallet can help avoid a scramble when trying to get out the door.

Avoiding infection

Cancer patients often have weakened immune systems, putting them at a higher risk for infections. To help your loved one avoid infection, encourage them to wash their hands frequently. This is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, or after touching things used by other people. Providing a travel-sized hand sanitizer can help them remove germs when a sink is unavailable.⁴

As a caregiver, you may have already taken on some daily tasks for your loved one that can help to minimize the risk of infection. You can assist by running errands where your loved one would otherwise encounter crowded places, such as schools or stores.⁴

Purchasing groceries or picking up prescriptions for your loved one can reduce exposure to sources of infection. For those not local to their loved one, delivery services can help the patient avoid crowded spaces.

It may also be easier for you to ask (and enforce!) that friends and family avoid visiting when they are sick. Remember to remind visitors to wash their hands when they enter.

Providing support and knowing when to ask for help

These are just a few of the symptoms and side effects your loved one may experience, along with ways you can help alleviate their impact. Ultimately, providing emotional support is one of the most important things that you can do as a caregiver. However, it is important to recognize that caregiving can be draining and that it is okay to reach out for help when you need it.