Caregivers: Supporting the supporters

Cancer has been a painful part of Radka Lakosilovas life. From four cycles of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, to losing weight, hair and friends, shes felt every moment.

But the pain she feels is secondhand. Its her 18-year-old daughter, Daniela Lakosilova, who has battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia for seven years.

Radka and her husband, Petr Lakosil, who donated his stem cells for Danielas 2009 transplant, have been there for every doctors appointment, surgery and treatment.

They were there when she relapsed and her boyfriend broke up with her because it was too much for him to handle. They were there to make sure her dress fit perfectly for the homecoming dance, despite her fluctuating weight.

Being a cancer caregiver to someone you love so much is the hardest thing, Radka said. Not being able to make the pain go away the nausea, the emotions, the stress.

Radka said she does her best to wear a brave face for Daniela and Petr, the softy of the family, but in at least two places, shes only human.

I cry in the shower or when Im driving alone, she said. One parent has to be the tough one. Though, she added, tough is relative when your daughter is a fighter.

For some patients, support groups are an important addition to treatment, creating an environment where they can talk about their shared concerns, receive emotional support and learn coping skills. The same is true for caregivers.

Radka is among the estimated 65 million unpaid caregivers in the United States who assist a chronically ill, disabled or aging loved one, according to a 2009 study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP.

Being a caregiver can take a physical and emotional toll whether someone considers it a personal responsibility, feels pressure to assume the role, or cant afford to pay for long-term care. Reports also state that caregivers, the majority of whom are women in their late 40s, are more likely than noncaregivers to live in poverty and experience poor mental health.

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Caregivers: Supporting the supporters