Supporting a loved one following CAR T-cell therapy is a big responsibility, but being prepared and making time for yourself can lighten the load. Myeloma specialist Dr. Krina Patel shares planning tips for care partners and stresses the importance of taking care of yourself when caring for someone else.
Dr. Krina Patel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Patel is actively involved in research and provides care for patients with multiple myeloma. Click here to learn more about Dr. Patel.
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Transcript
Katherine Banwell:
Dr. Patel. How can care partners prepare for this time?
Dr. Krina Patel:
Yeah, I think this is really important. For most of us who have somebody in our family we’ve taken care of, it can become hard, especially when you’re uprooting your life and everything for you goes on pause as well. Of course, you want your loved one to do well, but you have to take care of yourself.
And so, again, depending on if you’re in the city already or you’re going to have to move to a hotel or somewhere nearby for a few weeks, just making sure you bring things with you that kind of help you get through, and whatever hobbies you have that you can transport to where you’re going, and then, and taking care of yourself again physically and mentally.
It’s also heart healthy diet, exercising, staying hydrated, keeping in touch with friends and loved ones. Ways that you have outlets for, you need those when you’re coming to see us, too. So, sort of making sure that all of that is checked off, and then I actually tell my patients and their caregivers and care partners that maybe even having someone on standby that can help during that time, that you don’t have to have one care partner the entire time you’re here, and for some people, when they work, they might not be able to take four weeks off.
And so, really having a team of care partners, even if it’s just for weekends versus the weekdays, but having that calendar ready so that it’s potentially, if you get sick, for instance, which we get viruses and all kinds of things that are on the outside, then there’s somebody else that can help take care of your loved one while you’re recovering as well.
Katherine Banwell:
Right. And caregivers can always use some time off as well.
Dr. Krina Patel:
For sure.