'Cancer Patient Carers Overwhelmed During Pandemic'

The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society on Sunday announced that many of the SAR’s cancer patient caregivers are feeling depressed, and reminded carers to pay attention to their own well-being.

The society surveyed 256 caregivers from September to October and found that nearly 60 percent of them are depressed.

It also showed that two-thirds of survey participants felt trapped with their patients at home, while 11 percent had considered or attempted suicide.

The society also found that caregivers felt a high level of anxiety during the peak of the fifth Covid-19 wave in Hong Kong.

"During the pandemic they needed to pay a lot more attention to patients in terms of their hygiene, arrangements of their follow-ups. That increases [the caregivers'] stress," Rico Liu, chairman of the society's cancer education subcommittee, said.

He urged caregivers to seek help if they feel overwhelmed.

"Family members of the caregivers should not be too critical,” he said.

“It is important to be understanding of the situation and offer practical help," Liu added.