The Caregivers Perspective on Cancer
- helsbels7
- Jan 9, 2022
- 2 min read
Welcome back to the first new episode for 2022!
In this episode I'm joined by the founder of Chuan Skincare, Ada Chen, to talk about her experience as a caregiver to her parents.
In 2020 Ada had just moved from San Francisco to Colorado when her father was hospitalised after a fall. As the eldest, Ada took charge of coordinating his care, along with her sister, and making decisions for his welfare. When he contracted Covid during his stay in the hospital, Ada and her sister experienced what millions have during the pandemic, they were unable to be inside their father's hospital room in his final hours.
Fast forward a few months into 2021 and Ada's mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. This time taking on the role of caregiver was slightly easier with her mum living in the same city.
"If you're caregiving, make sure that you have a self-care routine once a week, or however often you need it. Just taking 15 minutes where you don't look at your phone, don't answer anything, like have it on for emergency".
In this episode we talk about:
- Losing a parent/ family member to covid
- What it's like being a caregiver
- The change in dynamic when your parent gets sick
- Caregiving from long distance
- How to take care of yourself when you are experiencing caregiver burnout
- Supporting someone through breast cancer
Our conversation is important for anyone who is impacted by covid or facing cancer with a loved one. We talk about how families are impacted by serious illnesses.
Listen here:
Ada's links
Helen's links:
The C Word Radio is a podcast that asks WTF does young cancer survivorship mean. If you got cancer and all you got was a darker sense of humor and PTSD join host, Helen King, and regular guests, for raw and at times inappropriate conversations about life after a cancer diagnosis.
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