The huge burden of employees caring for a loved one with cancer is often misunderstood.
This is according to Denise Wond, marketing director at Reframe Cancer (pictured), who was speaking at an event organised by the charity last week.
Learning to cook
Known to the sector as a former interim head of marketing at British Friendly and proposition development lead at Royal London, Wond explained she had lost close family members and friends to cancer.
“This event was inspired by my cousin,” Wond told delegates.
“She was only 52 and she tried to keep everything going right up until the last minute.
“I watched her juggle the household, trying to look after her daughter, still trying to work until she just couldn’t do it anymore.”
Wond added that her cousin’s husband became a single parent overnight and had to learn to cook.
“I know that sounds really simple, but he just doesn’t know how to give his daughter good nutrition, so he has learned to cook,” she continued.
Nurse support
Another loved one Wond watched go through cancer was her father.
“I think as someone who watched my own father’s care, I was very fortunate my sister in law had been a Macmillan nurse,” she continued. “My dad didn’t want to go to a hospice. He was a very determined man.
“So we chose to nurse him at home. So we nursed him and in many ways it was such a blessing to be there with him, but you find yourself doing things you thought were unimaginable. And I was rubbish.
“All respect to nurses like my sister in law. I was just being sick all the time. Everything was so difficult and I was so upset. And she was like, you’re a terrible nurse.
“But I knew that and that’s why I’m not one. But the greatest respect to all the nurses.
“I didn’t know about support at the time. I didn’t have access to anything like that, but Marie Curie nurses came in and gave us support so that we could sometimes get some sleep for an hour or two.”
Misunderstood role of carers
But Wond maintained she thinks the role of the carer is often not considered.
“People are still trying to go to work,” she continued. “They’re trying to look after someone who has got cancer. They’re still trying to get on with their lives.
“And in a lot of ways it’s misunderstood.
“At Reframe we actually do have a product that looks after carers because they carry a huge burden.
“And I think the challenges that come into people’s lives are sometimes very, very hard to navigate and they need help too.”
