Tips for Ovarian Cancer Caregivers
- Monty Norris started an online support group for the male caregivers of ovarian cancer patients.
- He had success by color coding medications to help ensure his wife remembered her doses.
- Bring a notebook of questions to ask the doctor, so your loved one won’t forget anything.
- Make sure to take time for yourself, so that you can be the best caregiver to your partner.
Going through the process of cancer diagnosis and treatment with her led to another discovery: "I found out that the men of ovarian cancer are underrepresented," Norris tells SurvivorNet. He started a Facebook group called TealMen of OC to support the male caregivers of ovarian cancer patients (teal is the color that represents ovarian cancer, just like pink represents breast cancer).
Read More Norris learned a few tricks during his wife's cancer treatment that he now shares with other caregivers. "We color coded all her medicines so that she knew when to take them," he says. "When you go to the doctor, you always want to have a notebook of any questions the caregivers should ask, because the patient is going to forget some of their questions." He also discovered ways to find fun during the most difficult parts of treatment chemotherapy and the hair loss it caused. "During chemo sessions…we took a picnic with us," Norris says. "And then we’d go out to dinner or to Target. And if there was a funny hat…she would put on the funny hat and we’d just laugh. That’s part of the relationship. You just gotta have fun." He reminds men to not neglect themselves in the process of caregiving for their loved one. "It’s very important that you keep the patient happy and comfortable, but you've also got to take time for yourself," he says.
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