Web Site Launches Cancer Caregivers Hall of Fame

Caregivers to patients with cancer are the unsung heroes of healthcare, quietly going about their tasks with little thought for themselves. Their only concern is for the health and comfort of their loved ones.

Caregiving is not easy; many caregivers have either abandoned their own careers, or are performing a juggling act between their day job and tending to their loved ones. Most see caregiving as their duty, one they are willing to perform without recognition. They see it as a labor of love.

But caregiving can cause physical and emotional strain, and often all they need is a pat on the back and a thank you.

It is to this end that www.Mesothelioma-health.org has developed the Cancer Caregivers Hall of Fame.

"What we are trying to do is give a bit of recognition to the sacrifices of cancer caregivers," said Jake Lowrey, Webmaster for www.Mesothelioma-health.org. "A simple 'thank you' can go a long way."

"If we can provide a bright spot in the life of a cancer caregiver by publishing their story on the Web, our efforts will be well worth it," Lowrey said.

Mesothelioma-health.org has established two categories for the Caregivers Hall of Fame; one for family members and one for hospital-based caregiving.

"Many times a hospital or clinic worker will go that extra mile in taking care of a patient," Lowrey said. "The patient and their family know who they are, so we're reaching out to them to nominate a hospital employee."

Conversely, he added, the hospital or clinic employees know about the extraordinary care taken by a home-based caregiver.

Criteria for inclusion in the Caregivers Hall of Fame have purposely been kept simple.

The caregiver must have provided care to a patient for at least one month, and the nomination must be made by someone with direct knowledge of the care provided.

"We're dealing with a very subjective area," Lowrey said. "Those receiving the care, or observing the care and its outcome are the best judges."

To nominate someone for the Cancer Caregivers Hall of Fame, send the details in an e-mail to info@mesothelioma-health.org . Photos are encouraged.

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Note: Mesothelioma is a type of cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos. There is no cure.