NNHC Resource Center
Cancer Support Resources
A practical resource for people living with cancer and the family members or caregivers supporting them through treatment, recovery, and changing care needs at home.
Know Who to Call During Treatment
Cancer treatments can cause side effects that range from expected and manageable to urgent or life-threatening. Keep the oncology team’s after-hours number and written escalation instructions readily available. New fever, uncontrolled symptoms, breathing difficulty, significant bleeding, severe dehydration, confusion, chest pain, or other serious changes should be handled according to the oncology plan and emergency instructions; call 911 for emergencies.
Organize the Treatment Plan
Cancer care often involves several specialists, medications, appointments, tests, and changing instructions. One organized care record can reduce confusion.
Keep an Updated Medication List
Include prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, treatment-related medicines, allergies, and which clinician manages each medication.
Track Symptoms & Side Effects
Record when symptoms begin, what makes them better or worse, and whether they interfere with eating, drinking, sleeping, walking, or other daily activities.
Keep Key Contacts Together
Maintain oncology, pharmacy, infusion center, home-care, emergency, transportation, insurance, and caregiver contacts in one accessible place.
Treatment Side Effects at Home
Side effects vary by cancer type, treatment, dose, and the individual. Families should use the oncology team’s specific instructions rather than assuming one person’s experience will apply to another.
Fatigue & Weakness
Plan rest, simplify tasks, use help for strenuous activities, and tell the care team about new or worsening fatigue that affects daily function.
Nausea, Vomiting & Bowel Changes
Use prescribed symptom medicines as directed and report uncontrolled vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or inability to maintain hydration according to the oncology plan.
Pain, Neuropathy & Mobility
Report new or worsening pain, numbness, weakness, falls, or changes in walking so the treatment team can evaluate causes and adjust the plan when appropriate.
Nutrition & Hydration
Cancer and treatment can affect appetite, taste, swallowing, digestion, weight, and the ability to prepare or tolerate food.
Ask the oncology team about a referral to a registered dietitian if there is ongoing weight loss, poor intake, swallowing difficulty, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, taste changes, or other nutrition concerns. Tube feeding or other nutrition support may be considered by the clinical team when someone cannot eat enough safely or consistently.
Infection Awareness & Safety
Some cancer treatments can weaken immune defenses. The oncology team should provide individualized guidance about fever, infection exposure, food safety, central lines or ports, and when to seek urgent care.
Follow the Oncology Fever Plan
Do not rely on a generic fever threshold when the care team has provided a specific instruction. Keep that instruction with the treatment plan and after-hours contact information.
Practice Food Safety
When treatment increases infection risk, careful food handling, storage, preparation, and avoidance of unsafe foods may be especially important.
Watch Lines & Treatment Sites
If the person has a port, central line, drain, wound, or treatment site, report redness, swelling, drainage, pain, or other changes according to the team’s instructions.
Caregiver Support
Cancer caregivers often coordinate appointments, transportation, meals, medicines, personal care, household tasks, symptom reporting, and emotional support. That workload can become substantial.
NCI Caregiver Support
The National Cancer Institute provides practical information for family and friend caregivers during cancer treatment, including coping, asking for help, and protecting the caregiver’s own health.
American Cancer Society
ACS offers patient and caregiver support, transportation and lodging resources, and a 24/7 cancer helpline at 1-800-227-2345.
Share the Work
Divide transportation, meal preparation, errands, overnight help, household tasks, appointment notes, and respite rather than allowing one person to carry every responsibility.
Financial & Practical Assistance
Treatment can create transportation, lodging, medication, copay, food, childcare, employment, and household-cost pressures.
ACS Expense Resources
The American Cancer Society maintains current guidance and referral resources for transportation, lodging, prescription costs, insurance, disability benefits, and other cancer-related expenses.
Transportation & Lodging
ACS programs may include Road To Recovery transportation and Hope Lodge or other lodging support, depending on location, eligibility, and availability.
Hospital Social Work & Navigation
Ask the oncology center about social work, nurse navigation, financial counseling, transportation assistance, disability or leave resources, and local nonprofit programs.
How NNHC Can Help
When cancer or treatment makes daily life at home more difficult, NNHC can discuss personal care, companion support, respite, skilled nursing, medication support under current orders, and other home-care services appropriate to the individual’s assessed needs and payer authorization.
Resource notice: This page is educational and does not replace oncology advice, treatment instructions, emergency evaluation, or individualized symptom-management plans. Financial and community programs may have eligibility requirements and limited availability. Resource links reviewed September 18, 2026.