ABSTRACT
If you are reading this, it is likely that you have accepted, or may be considering responsibility for a relative or friend who has cancer. This can be a daunting situation, and this guide provides information and advice to help you deal with the most common problems faced by carers of cancer patients. It provides answers to many of the questions you may wish to ask. The author, Dr Welsey Finegan, was a consultant in palliative medicine before being diagnosed with cancer himself. This gave him a unique perspective that enabled him to write the popular "Trust Me I'm a Doctor Cancer Patient", which is packed with practical and accessible advice for patients. More recently Dr Finegan has also become a family carer, and is determined to use his expertise to provide other carers with a concise source of specialist knowledge.This guide deals with pain, physical symptoms, psychological problems, death and bereavement, and it adopts a unique approach to encourage the carer to work with the patient, doctors and nurses to achieve realistic and mutually agreed outcomes. You are encouraged to learn about day-to-day problems, ask relevant questions and take an active part in sharing the care of the patient. The book will lead you towards relevant sources of help and advice, and suggests tried and tested ideas that have helped other patients.
