When to call on professional help

End of life care
Cancer care
End of life care

Caring at home for someone with cancer can bring them a lot of comfort, but it can be an overwhelming and distressing experience for the carer. Professional help is a call away, but it can be hard to know when to call.

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Professional Help

There are lots of important and helpful things that you can do as a carer for someone at home

You can make sure they are comfortable as possible, hydrated, and getting any pain relief or other medication they need. You can also provide emotional support but there are times when you simply won’t have the knowledge or experience to be able to help. There are times when a caregiver should contact the patient’s cancer care doctor or nurse navigator for help in any of the following situations:

When to call the patient's cancer care team

  • When any new symptoms arise, like nausea or vomiting, increasing confusion, anxiety, or restlessness.
  • When their pain is not being relieved by the prescribed dose of pain medication.
  • When previously well-controlled symptoms worsen.
  • When the patient shows discomfort, perhaps by moaning or grimacing.
  • If they are having any trouble breathing and seem in distress.
  • If they are unable to urinate or empty their bowels.
  • If they are very depressed or discussing suicide.
  • If they fall.
  • If you are having any difficulty giving medication to the patient and need help.
  • If you feel overwhelmed, too sad, or even frightened to be alone with the patient.
  • If you don't know how to handle a certain situation.
    • If you are having any difficulty giving medication to the patient and need help.
    • If you feel overwhelmed, too sad, or even frightened to be alone with the patient.
    • If you don't know how to handle a certain situation.

Keep in mind that palliative care experts can be called upon by the patient's physician at any point in the person's illness to help with these issues. They are increasingly available not only in the hospital, but also in the outpatient setting.

Keep in mind that palliative care experts can be called upon by the patient's physician at any point in the person's illness to help with these issues. They are increasingly available not only in the hospital, but also in the outpatient setting.