Caring for someone with advanced cancer

The partner, relative or friend you are looking after may have been told their cancer has spread or come back, or perhaps that it can’t be cured. You may still be trying to come to terms with this and experiencing a range of strong emotions.

To help you understand what the person you are caring for is coping with, you may find it helpful to read our section about Coping with advanced cancer|, which is written for people with advanced cancer.

You may be keen to show them how much you care, and to plan how best to look after them and make them comfortable. You may also be worried that you won’t have the physical or emotional strength to cope, and that it will be difficult to get the practical support you need to make life at home easier.

Everyone’s situation is different, and everyone has different ways of coping. Some people find they need to talk through their feelings and fears before they can begin to make plans and decide on practical matters. Others manage better by beginning with the practical things.

We have divided this section into three parts:

• Preparation for the person you are caring for coming home lists some of the practical things to think about and plan before the person with cancer comes home
• Caring at home has useful tips on caring for the person when they are at home, and includes details of the support that's available
• End of life gives information about the end of life, what to expect, and practical information on what to do after death.