Best of Cancerwise 2015: Stories for cancer caregivers

Caring for a loved one during cancer treatment is one of the hardest jobs there is. That's why at MD Anderson, we consider cancer caregivers to be survivors, too.

And we know some of the best advice and understanding from your caregiver journey comes from others who've been there. To help those in this important role, we've compiled a few of the great stories that caregivers have shared with us this past year.

Finding my identity as a cancer spouse
Throughout his wife's cancer journey, Matt Madsen often felt more like "Stephanie's husband" than "Matt." But eventually, he found his voice as a caregiver. Read how he came to terms with his role.

Putting family first after my dad's melanoma recurrence
Melanie Steel was devastated when her dad was diagnosed with melanoma. But she's found a silver lining: his visits to Houston for treatment at MD Anderson have allowed him to get to know his granddaughter. Read more about how cancer has brought her family closer.

Finding meaning after my husband's death
When Lindi Senez's husband, Dave, died one year ago, she went from being his caregiver to being both mommy and daddy to their young son. Today, Lindi has found a new normal for herself and her son while continuing to honor Dave. Read more here.

Fighting renal medullary carcinoma with my brother
The moment Cora Conner's received word that her brother had a rare kidney cancer, she promised she would fight for him. Learn how she kept her word.

How my husband and I confronted sarcoma together
After her husband came to MD Anderson for sarcoma treatment, Leticia Rousseve joined a support group that allowed her to verbalize her feelings with fellow caregivers. That's where she learned an important lesson -- she wasn't alone. Read how she's continuing to spread that message to others.