Things I Wish I'd Known

Updated 2023; Family caregivers are the unsung heroes of the life-saving drama that's triggered by a cancer diagnosis. Nearly three quarters of American households will find themselves caring for a cancer patient at one point in their lives. This book is the first to capture their thoughts, feelings, and insights on a large scale. It is based on 101 formal interviews with non-professional caregivers (some of whom are cancer survivors themselves), covering 122 patients in 19 states and Canada who ranged in age from 2 to 92 and faced 40 different cancer diagnoses. Practical lessons drawn from caregivers' experiences are intermingled with their own words to forge a compelling narrative intended to help both patients and their family caregivers to understand and cope with the full range of issues they should anticipate as they fight the battle of their lives.

The lessons provide building blocks on which you can rely as you participate in decision-making and plan for the future. You will learn about cancer caregiver considerations in:

Getting a clear cancer diagnosis
Gathering information about the cancer diagnosis
Choosing cancer treatment partners
Making cancer treatment decisions (including complementary and
alternative treatments and palliative care)
Getting inside the cancer caregiving role (including questions to ask on doctor visits)
Accessing available cancer information and treatment resources (including clinical trials)
Managing cancer-related financial and legal issues
Seeking normalcy during cancer treatment
Confronting cancer-related issues facing families with children
(children in a household with cancer, and children as patients)
Managing cancer caregiver emotions and health
Nearing life's end from cancer
Preparing for the aftermath (including how cancer caregivers heal)