Look beyond the standard medical treatments for cancer

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editor

4. Ask the doctor what other services might be helpful, and ask for referrals.

You might be surprised how many other health professionals are available to help cancer patients cope -- and how often patients don't get referrals for those services unless they ask about them. Consider adding any or all of these to your team:

A nutritionist or dietitian. An incredibly helpful resource in dealing with nausea, fatigue, and other cancer-related symptoms, a nutritionist or dietitian can recommend dietary changes to support cancer treatment. Nutritionists can spot nutritional deficits that may be undermining her health, recommend supplements, and provide meal suggestions and recipes to stimulate her appetite.
A physical therapist. When a cancer patient suffers from neuropathy and other types of pain, a physical therapist can teach her exercises to combat pain and maintain body strength. Also, a good physical therapist can recommend ergonomic seating and better sleeping positions to make her more comfortable.
A social worker. This is the person you want to be able to call when the person you're caring for is depressed, anxious, stressed, or fearful and your support isn't enough. A social worker can recommend support groups, access mental health services, and look at ways to deal with the many lifestyle issues that can arise in fighting cancer.
A psychiatrist or psychologist. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are common for people with cancer, and they can complicate treatment by interfering with the patient's ability to take an active role in her own well-being. Psychologists can provide counseling and recommend or run support groups, while psychiatrists can prescribe medication, such as antidepressants and antianxiety drugs.
A pain specialist. When the painkillers prescribed aren't working or are creating complications, you'll want to call this expert. A pain specialist can evaluate the source and intensity of her pain, and find ways to treat it even when first-line medications aren't working. A pain specialist can also coordinate with a physical therapist to come up with a two-pronged approach to treating the patient's pain.

5. Get referrals to alternative or complementary practitioners.

Depending on a patient's needs and tolerance for alternative approaches, you may want to get a recommendation for an acupuncturist, a Chinese herbal medicine specialist, or both. (Talk to her oncologist before starting complementary therapies, Daneker says, to prevent any interactions between medications and herbs or supplements, and also so her doctor doesn't feel like you're doing an end run around him.) Acupuncture and acupressure are often helpful for pain management and nausea, and Chinese herbal medicine has been shown to help patients tolerate chemotherapy and cope with nausea and appetite loss. Massage is not only relaxing and helpful in combating stress but can be beneficial for neuropathy. It's useful to start gathering recommendations ahead of time so you're not caught off guard when the person you're caring for starts experiencing painful symptoms and needs help now.