As Canada’s population continues to grow and get older, the number of cancer cases is rising. This also means that more people are becoming caregivers. According to Statistics Canada, roughly 7.8 million individuals in 2018 – or 1 in 4 people in Canada – provided care to a relative or friend with a long-term health condition.
If you are a caregiver to someone with cancer, your responsibilities and life changes might feel overwhelming. But you’re not alone.
Chantal Tardiff shares her story about becoming her husband’s caregiver, and how she turned that experience into becoming a voice for cancer caregivers.
Chantal becomes a caregiver
Chantal Tardif was leading a busy life working full-time and raising a teenage daughter with her husband, when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma – an incurable cancer. Now, she was also a caregiver.
Quickly, Chantal’s days became about learning new skills, balancing work, her husband’s medical appointments, household chores and their daughter’s activities.
Her caregiver role has been both rewarding and demanding. She advocated for her spouse’s medical case to get answers and has been a constant source of support for him.
What you discover is that you can change things, you can be actively engaged even when it seems hard, you can educate yourself and become part of the treatment process so you can anticipate the next steps. I learned that even in the face of adversity, action and information can be catalysts for change.
At the same time, Chantal’s experience with caregiving changed her outlook on life. She learned who her true friends were, she had to quit her job, her family faced financial hardships, and her mental health was tested through the 5 years of her husband going in and out of the hospital.
Although he is now in partial remission, the cancer still requires Chantal’s constant attention – both physically and mentally.
Recognizing cancer caregivers
Understanding the experience of caregiving and needing to meet other obligations, Chantal knew that a support group was needed to help other caregivers in the same situation. Because of the lack of resources, Chantal created her own organization that focuses on psychosocial support and advocacy for the rights of cancer-specific caregivers.
Chantal’s organization raises awareness about the role of cancer caregivers and the importance of telling their stories. She hopes that by sharing their stories, fellow caregivers can feel less isolated and find hope in one another’s experiences.
Because cancer caregivers often don’t see themselves as caregivers, they miss out on support and services they are entitled to.
"Sadly, cancer and caregivers are still taboo subjects that people keep quiet about. But talking to others who have had similar experiences or even reading stories that resonate with your own experience, can provide a valuable boost,” Chantal shares. “Sharing these stories creates a glimmer of hope and provides a feeling of understanding and unity, breaking down the walls of silence that surround these harsh realities."
For Chantal, the Canadian Cancer Society is an important source of support for caregivers to access resources and answers to their questions.
For caregiver support, you can call our Cancer Information Helpline to talk to someone about reliable cancer information, emotional support, resources available to you and more. If you want to connect with a community of people who understand what you’re going through, join CancerConnection.ca.
Help us continue providing support to caregivers like Chantal.
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