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Caring for someone with cancer
You may be reading this because you are caring for someone with cancer. The person you’re caring for may be interested in taking part in research. Depending on the type of research, it is usually recommended that carers read about the study themselves and talk it over with the person who has cancer. You can also discuss the study with the clinical trials or research nurse.
While the decision to participate lies with the person who has cancer (unless they’re under 18), it’s important that you, as the carer, know what impact the study might have on the participant, and on you and your family. For example, you may have to take extra time off work to drive the person you’re caring for to appointments, or you may be worried about how the treatment will affect them. Check with the clinical trials or research nurse whether you can be reimbursed for costs associated with helping the person to participate in the study.
Being involved in research may offer the person with cancer an opportunity to have a promising new treatment or other useful supportive care options. It may be satisfying to know that their participation will help others in the future.
Weighing up these options – and just being a carer in general – can be very stressful. Try to look after yourself by giving yourself some time out, and sharing your worries and concerns with a counsellor or your doctor. To find local support services, information and resources contact the Carer Gateway (call 1800 422 737), Carers NSW (call 1800 242 636) or Cancer Council 13 11 20.
For more on this, see Caring for Someone with Cancer.
Additional resources
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Understanding Clinical Trials and Research Download PDF298kB
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Emotions and Cancer Download PDF506kB
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Caring for Someone with Cancer Download PDF442kB
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Caring for Someone with Cancer ebook Download ePUB1.16MB
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Emotions and Cancer ebook Download ePUB569kB
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Caring for Someone with Cancer ebook Download ePUB1.16MB
A/Prof Andrew Redfern, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Clinical Academic Oncologist, The University of Western Australia, and Lead Clinician, State Breast Cancer Collaborative, WA; Christie Allan, Program Coordinator – Clinical Trials, Cancer Council Victoria; Bronwyn Chalmers, Clinical Trial Coordinator, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Sarah Coulson, Coordinator, Oncology Clinical Trials, Projects and Research, Tasmanian Health Service, TAS; Kate Cox, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Annette Cubitt, Clinical Trials Manager, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Pete Currie, Consumer; Amy Ives, Clinical Trials Coordinator, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Sabina Jelinek, Clinical Research Nurse, Murdoch Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, WA; Dr Visalini Nair-Shalliker, Research Fellow – Prostate, Cancer Council NSW; Karlie Neilson, Project Officer – Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council NSW; Prof Mark Rosenthal, Medical Oncologist, and Director, Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, VIC; Joan Torony, CEO, TROG Cancer Research, NSW; Rebecca Weselman, Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator, Oncology Clinical Trials, St John of God Murdoch Hospital, WA; John Williams, Research Governance Officer, Cancer Council NSW.
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