CancerExplained.org · Free health handout
Caregiver Checklist
A practical starting point for supporting someone with cancer
Get organized
- Keep one folder or binder: appointment summaries, contact numbers, medication list, insurance papers.
- Write down the care team's names, roles, and phone numbers — including the after-hours number.
- Keep a shared calendar of appointments, treatment days, and prescription refills.
- Ask the person you care for what help they actually want — and what they'd rather do themselves.
At appointments
- Offer to take notes so they can focus on the conversation.
- Help prepare a question list beforehand, and ask which questions they want you to raise.
- Ask who to call with questions between visits.
Take care of yourself too
- Accept specific offers of help — meals, rides, errands — and keep a list of tasks to hand off.
- Watch for signs of burnout: exhaustion, irritability, trouble sleeping.
- Ask the care team about caregiver support services and support groups.
- Your own doctor visits still matter — keep them.
Caregiving is a team effort — the healthcare team, family, friends, and support services are all part of it. You don't have to carry it alone.
This handout is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about what is right for you.
Sources: NCI: Caregiver support. Updated 2026-07-05.
Learn more in plain language: https://cancerexplained.org/caregivers/caring-for-someone-with-cancer/ — free to copy and share for non-commercial education.