Cristy Romero ’23
Who Cares for the Caregivers: How Being a Caregiver Impacts Cancer Survivorship
Cristy Romero ’23, Sociology and Biology major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Brandon C. Martinez, Sociology and Anthropology
With an aging population, informal caregiving is rising and is the predominant way for people with chronic illnesses to receive care. Providing care for someone with a chronic illness can take a toll on the caregiver. Caregivers often develop their own chronic illnesses such as cancer. Compared to Whites, Latinx cancer survivors and their families experience disproportionate adverse effects of cancer and cancer therapy as a result of physical, emotional, and financial challenges. This highlights racial/ethnic disparity in cancer survivorship. Due to the interwoven relationship between the caregiver and the care recipient, both parties are at risk if the caregiver is no longer able to provide care. This study seeks To establish a narrative of the survivorship experience of caregivers who develop cancer. To understand and capture the intersectionalities and challenges unique to this group. The study used a qualitative descriptive method. Semi-structured interviews in Spanish were conducted with a purposive sample of 3 Latinx cancer survivors and 2 Latinx cancer survivors and caregivers. Their responses were transcribed and analyzed for themes. The 3 major themes identified were: 1) Burden and isolation; 2)Institutional (In)visibility; and 3) Challenges and Obstacles. Our findings draw attention to the need for tailored interventions targeting Latinx cancer survivors and caregivers. Future research should work to detail this experience so that we may better assist Latinx caregivers and survivorship experience.
Poster Presentation: Tuesday, April 25, 2- 4 p.m.
