If you have a relative, friend or partner with lymphoma, this is a good place to start learning more about the disease and how you can help the person you know who has the disease. Finding out about lymphoma and its treatment will help people with lymphoma cope with the disease by making them aware of what they can expect and how they can help themselves.
You are considered to be a caregiver if you are caring for a loved one with lymphoma who can no longer manage on his or her own. Perhaps you are helping your loved one with daily needs, such as bathing or dressing, paying the bills and taking him or her to the doctor’s office or the grocery store. You may be a son or a daughter, a husband or a wife, an in-law, a neighbour or a close friend. You may live together, next door, in another city or across the country. If you are providing regular assistance to a patient with lymphoma, you are considered to be a caregiver.
Most of this Web site is written from a patient’s point of view, but all the information can be just as valuable for you as a caregiver or friend, so please look through the other sections of the Web site and supporting materials as well as this one.
I Know Someone with Lymphoma and I Would Like to Find Out More About the Disease
If a friend, relative or someone you care about has been diagnosed with lymphoma it is often difficult to know what to expect or how you can support them. Just being there for them and making the time to listen and offer practical and emotional support whenever needed is a good start.
The LFC Web site is a place where you can begin to learn about what your relative, friend or partner will be facing at different stages of the disease, as well as what they could be doing to help themselves. This kind of knowledge can help you begin thinking about what you can do to support them, both practically and emotionally.
It is also important to remember that there is a lot of help available for people with lymphoma and their caregivers. Their healthcare team and local support groups are valuable sources of information and advice.
What do I do Next if I’m Caring for Someone with Lymphoma?
If you’re caring for someone with lymphoma, learning about the disease and its management is a good first step to help you understand what your partner, relative or friend is going through, and will help you be as useful as possible to them. However, this can be daunting when there is so much to think about, and you may feel like you are facing a double burden – not only are you dealing with the practical aspects of caring for someone who is going through a difficult and frightening experience, you also have to be strong when you may be feeling helpless and emotionally drained yourself. This is why it is important to remember that you are not alone. Keep in mind that this Web site will always be here for you as an information resource, so you don’t have to worry about remembering everything at once.
