Caring for someone with cancer often involves more than attending medical appointments. You may find yourself coordinating treatments, keeping track of medications, communicating with different healthcare professionals and managing day-to-day responsibilities.
While this can feel overwhelming at first, having a simple system in place can make caregiving more manageable.
Remember that you do not have to organise everything on your own. Your healthcare team and community support services are there to help.
Keep important information in one place
Cancer treatment often involves multiple appointments, tests and healthcare professionals. Consider keeping a folder or digital file containing:
- Appointment dates
- Medical reports and test results
- Medication lists
- Hospital discharge summaries
- Medical certificates
- Insurance documents
- Financial records
- Contact details for healthcare providers
Having important information readily available can make appointments and emergencies less stressful.
Prepare for medical appointments
Appointments are an opportunity to better understand your loved one’s condition and treatment plan.
Before each appointment:
- Write down any questions or concerns.
- Keep a record of new symptoms or side effects.
- Bring a list of current medications.
- Note any changes in your loved one’s physical or emotional wellbeing.
If appropriate, one family member can take notes during the consultation so that important information can be shared with others afterwards.
Understand who to contact
Different questions may be best answered by different members of the healthcare team.
For example:
- Doctors can advise on diagnosis, treatment and medical decisions.
- Nurses can answer many questions about treatment, medications and side effects.
- Medical Social Workers can provide guidance on financial assistance and community resources.
- Allied health professionals such as dietitians or rehabilitation therapists can provide specialised support.
Knowing who to contact can help you get the right advice more quickly.
Coordinate care as a family
When several family members are involved, it can be helpful to agree on who will take responsibility for different tasks.
For example:
- Accompanying your loved one to appointments
- Managing medications
- Preparing meals
- Providing transport
- Handling finances
- Updating family members
Sharing responsibilities can help prevent one caregiver from becoming overwhelmed.
Be prepared for unexpected situations
It is helpful to discuss what to do if your loved one’s condition changes suddenly.
Know:
- Which hospital or clinic to contact during office hours
- After-hours contact numbers provided by your healthcare team
- When to seek urgent medical attention
- When to call an ambulance
If you are unsure whether a symptom requires urgent medical attention, contact your healthcare team or seek emergency care.
Make use of community support
You do not have to manage every aspect of care on your own.
Community services may be able to provide practical support such as:
- Counselling
- Financial assistance
- Transport assistance
- Rehabilitation programmes
- Home-based care where appropriate
Accepting support can reduce stress and allow you to focus on spending meaningful time with your loved one.
Looking after yourself while coordinating care
Organising appointments, medications and daily responsibilities can become mentally exhausting.
Remember to:
- Take regular breaks.
- Share responsibilities where possible.
- Accept help when it is offered.
- Reach out if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Looking after your own well-being is an important part of providing ongoing care.
Every family’s journey is different
Some families may only need occasional support, while others may take on more intensive caregiving responsibilities over time.
There is no single “right” way to organise care. Focus on creating a system that works for your loved one, your family and your circumstances.
Continue reading
Every cancer journey is different. Depending on your loved one’s needs, you may find these articles helpful:
Caregiving During Recovery
Learn how to support your loved one as they recover from treatment and adjust to life afterwards.
Planning Ahead: Making Your Healthcare Wishes Known
Learn about Advance Care Planning and other tools that can help you communicate your future healthcare wishes and prepare for important decisions.
We're here to support you
Coordinating care can feel overwhelming at times. Singapore Cancer Society provides practical support and services to help patients and caregivers navigate the healthcare journey with greater confidence.
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