Any other young caregiver's dealing with a loved one fighting cancer?

I'm 25 and my boyfriend of 7 years is fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma for the 3rd time. This has put a tremendous amount of stress and emotional hardship on me. How do you deal?

I'm not to sure that I am a "young caregiver", but I was caregiver for my wife for 3 years.

Yes, it does put a tremendous stress and hardship on a person, but it is the price we pay. I let myself cry when I needed to, and I did it often (just not around her). I coped by going to work, by going grocery shopping, by going to sporting events. Anything that is "normal" behavior.

Only you can decide if you have the stuff to stay in the relationship. I decided to stay. My wife died 8 months ago. I'm glad that I made the decision that I did, because I know that I did all that I could to try to help her get better. I suppose we get our sense of satisfaction in our own unique ways. I got mine by staying at my wife's side until the day that she died. I don't regret my decision.

Only you can really decide what is best for your situation, and I wish you both the best of luck.

When I was 20 (almost 21) my husband of 2 yrs had Hodgekins Lymphoma. He is in perfect health now. When I was 28 (just 2 yrs ago) our then 3 1/2 yr old son had Wilms Tumor (childhood cancer of the kidney). He is also fine now.

You "deal" by not feeling sorry for yourself. By not feeling sorry for the one that is sick. By living your life and fighting with and for that person each and every day. You ask for help when it's needed and you accept help when it's offered.

In 2005 i was diagnosed with leukemia, and all i can tell you is to stick b y his side. keep confidence that everythign will be fine. He will be stronger if you are stronger, but if you show an ounce of worry or weakness then he will worry and be weak. He needs you, and it sucks that this has happened twice before to him, but keep fight, you both will win.

Sorry to hear about your boyfriend's illness.

When I was 23 and had a 9month old baby, my mum found out she had lung cancer and around the lining of her heart. I wanted to believe that she could beat it! Because there are some of us that do! (I had breast cancer in 02 and 03 at the ages of 30 and 31) doing fine now:)

Well, my mum, I think she hung in the towel and wanted to be with my dad who passed away in 88 . My mum passed away in 95.

I took her to her radiation therapies most everyday and most the time with the baby . Which I hated to do, but a lot of time he brought joy to the people in there waiting for their treatments. It was overwhelming because I am the baby of family (sibs are 8, 9, 11 and 14 yrs older than me. One lived out of state and one out of town. the other 3 of us lived in town and the one and his family lived wiht mom)

A lot of the time I had to take care of her in and out of the hospital. I am not complaing, but it was draining, emotionally and physically.
I wouldnt' trade that time with my mum for anything. I would watch tv wiht her, talk to her and read books to her.
The other's helped when they could, but sometimes they wouldn't because they didn't want to see her like that. Well, I didn't want to see her like that, and thats why I am glad I did , because I got to spend that time with her.

I sometimes would spend the night in the hospital with her because she was scared.

Just be there for him, and I know it sounds weird, but try and have some fun with him. Get a funny book or movie.

I know I wanted to be treated normal when I was going through my cancer troubles.

Good luck

GB