Lymphoma Journey
Caring for Someone with Lymphoma
A care partner (also known as a caregiver) is someone who helps a loved one with lymphoma through their treatment. While caring for your loved one may feel natural, being a care partner is often demanding and can be a full-time job. Care Partners can mean many things, like helping with daily activities (practical care), overseeing healthcare routines (medical care), or providing emotional support (emotional care).
- Practical care: assisting in daily chores, like running errands, cleaning, meal prepping, or childcare. You may also be asked to manage financial and insurance matters, keep track of important documents, or be a direct contact for any pressing non-medical issues.
- Medical care: going to medical appointments, sorting through treatment options, and making sure medications are taken correctly. You may also assist in managing side effects or special diets according to the doctor’s instructions.
- Emotional care: offering emotional or spiritual support to the person with lymphoma. This includes listening to your loved one and helping him or her cope with their feelings throughout treatment. The single most important thing to do is to show up and just be present.
Helping Your Loved One
Caregiving often implies a change in roles, like taking care of your parent as an adult, or caring for your spouse or friend who has always been healthy. It is very common for care partners to feel overwhelmed in the beginning, particularly if they lack experience. Many care partners say that they learn more as they go through their loved one’s cancer treatment. There are many ways you can help a loved one with lymphoma, as follows:
- Be present
- Be prepared
- Listen
- Avoid “cheerleading” and leave space for negative feelings
- Organize the help being offered by others
- Set up remote access with computer and/or phone access
- Offer rides and help with transportation
- Take notes
Download our Care Partner fact sheet for more information about caring for someone with lymphoma.
It is possible to support a loved one with lymphoma from afar. This is called long-distance caregiving and applies if you are taking care of a loved one who lives an hour or more away.
Caring for a Pediatric Lymphoma Patient
A diagnosis of pediatric cancer is overwhelming for the child and the care partner. It is important that you adapt your caregiving approach to a child’s age
As a care partner, it is important that you practice self-care regularly to reset your physical and emotional well-being and meet the demanding needs of being a care partner.
Financial and Insurance Considerations
Each person’s experience with cancer is different, and coping with the physical and emotional impact of having lymphoma is unique to a patient’s personality and situation. Learn about coping strategies, financial considerations, and nutrition.
Knowledge is power when it comes to navigating a lymphoma diagnosis, treatment options, and survivorship. Our educational resources are designed to provide patients, survivors, and care partners with reliable, up-to-date information about lymphoma, including subtypes, symptoms, treatment approaches, and the latest research advancements.