Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is a devastating disease that not only affects patients and their loved ones but also places a high burden on their caregivers. These dedicated individuals tirelessly provide physical, emotional and psychological support throughout the cancer journey, often at the expense of their well-being. Yet, the significance of caring for caregivers in cancer medicine often goes unnoticed.

The issue of caregiver burnout has become increasingly prevalent among healthcare professionals in various fields over the years, including oncology. Alongside common risk factors like excessive workload, long working hours and the stress due to growing administrative responsibilities, oncologists face unique challenges, such as providing care for seriously ill patients undergoing toxic therapies with severe side effects and limited efficacy. A notable study conducted by Susana Banerjee and her team (2017) highlighted this problem among young European oncologists, revealing that a staggering 71% showed signs of burnout.1 This underlines the critical need for addressing burnout among caregivers, particularly those in high-stress specialties like oncology.

In cancer medicine, professional caregivers fulfill a multitude of roles. They provide transportation, administer medications, coordinate medical appointments, offer emotional support and often bear witness to the distressing physical and emotional burden that cancer can bring. The long hours, demanding responsibilities and emotional trauma can erode their well-being, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. This demanding job can certainly take a toll on caregivers’ physical and mental health, leading to increased stress, anxiety, depression and even burnout.

Caregivers are the pillars upon which patients lean, but their own needs and challenges are often neglected. The lack of support for caregivers can have far-reaching consequences. Exhaustion and burnout can directly impact the quality of care caregivers provide, potentially compromising patient outcomes. Moreover, the struggling caregiver’s emotional well-being can strain relationships within families, leading to additional distress for both patients and caregivers.

Recognizing and addressing the needs of caregivers is crucial to ensuring optimal patient care and promoting the well-being of the entire caregiving ecosystem. Healthcare institutions and professionals must recognize the critical role caregivers play in supporting patients with cancer and implement comprehensive caregiver support programs. These programs should offer emotional and psychological support, options for taking breaks (respite care), access to educational material, financial advice and opportunities for peer support. By integrating these support services directly into the healthcare system, caregivers can receive specific help when they need it, making it easier to tackle unique challenges that come with their job.

Taking care of those who care for others is essential for the well-being of both, patients and the caregivers themselves. Caregivers in cancer medicine demonstrate incredible dedication and selflessness as they navigate the challenging path with the patients they care for. Focusing on the well-being and needs of these unsung heroes is imperative to ensure they can continue to provide the best care possible and to prevent the burnout that can come from their demanding roles. By valuing and supporting caregivers, we can create a healthcare system that is more compassionate and sustainable for all those affected by cancer.

Best wishes,

 

PD Dr Marcus Vetter
Chief Physician
Head of Center Oncology & Hematology
Center Oncology & Hematology
Cantonal Hospital Baselland (KSBL)
Liestal, Switzerland
marcus.vetter@ksbl.ch

Conflict of interest

The author received honoraria for consultancy from GSK, Roche, Novartis, Exact Sciences, Pfizer, Stemline, AbbVie and ASC Oncology. These funding entities did not play a role in the development of the manuscript and did not influence its content in any way.

Funding

The author has declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work.

Author contributions

The author has created and approved the final manuscript.