A Phenomenologic Study of Family Caregivers of Patients With Head and Neck Cancers

Abstract

Nurses must include caregivers in physical and psychosocial plans of care. Balancing and meeting information needs of caregivers to avoid undue emotional stress and recognizing their support needs are valuable components of care.

Toward the development of a model of caregiver-specific fear of cancer recurrence: a systematic review

“…“You never know when it’s going to come up again, and it could come up” [Not specified in primary paper]. [59]…”

“…This unease was pervasive and centralized around the ongoing fear that cancer may return unannounced at any time:“You never know when it’s going to come up again, and it could come up” [Not specified in primary paper]. [59] …”

“…I was hypervigilant. [I watched] every little thing, then I had to catch myself, you know, and back down because [my loved one] would get annoyed by it… [I was] really being a horrible nag about it” [Not specified in primary paper] [59]…”

“…You can't ignore this elephant that has moved into your life. There's just no ignoring it" [Not specified in primary paper] [59] When faced with the prospect of losing their loved one, caregivers experienced distress and uncertainty. Caregivers were instead left to consider the worst possible outcome, questions surrounding if, and when this may occur unanswerable: "Yeah.…”

Distress in long‐term head and neck cancer carers: a qualitative study of carers' perspectives

“…). Healthcare professional intervention to address informational needs may therefore correct a negative (addressing informational deficiencies and thereby facilitating emotional well‐being) while also being a valuable method of support in and of itself (Fronczek ). This type of informational intervention should ideally be delivered early after the patient's diagnosis, and preferably face to face (Richardson et al .…”