The Farming Community Network (FCN) has released a new short film in which a volunteer has shared the challenges of caring for a loved one with cancer.
Released as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the Rural Communities Cancer Project – a UK-wide partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support – Tracy Doherty, who lives in Northern Ireland, tells her story of being a wife and a carer.
She initially encouraged her husband to visit his doctor after noticing symptoms, which led to an early diagnosis of bowel cancer. Over the past two decades, he has faced three separate diagnoses of bowel cancer, and Tracey has supported him through the treatment of each.
Tracey said: “There are times when as a wife, as a loved one, you feel very alone. You feel as no one hears you and you don’t really have a voice. No one really thinks that the loved one is suffering too.
“It’s important to talk to people about how you feel. Friends and family are good for this. Let them be a shoulder for you to cry on.
“Macmillan are also there. For me, when I was sometimes at my lowest points, I would pick up the phone and contact Macmillan.”
A report by Carers NI found that carers in rural communities can face additional challenges to those in urban areas, including limited access to social care services, difficulties accessing healthcare professionals and increased travel. These can leave carers feeling isolated when support is most needed.
The #NipItInTheBud campaign encourages anyone who is worried about their health to contact their GP and seek advice, reinforcing the message that early presentation can save lives.
The campaign is being expanded to encourage early access to support – highlighting the support available through the Macmillan Support Line, the Macmillan website and online community, and money advisors services provided by Macmillan Cancer Support.
Caitriona Crawford, national manager (Northern Ireland) for The Farming Community Network, said: “This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we are highlighting the powerful and often unseen experiences of those caring for loved ones impacted by cancer, alongside the importance of early diagnosis and its life-saving impact.
“Cancer can be an incredibly difficult time, not only for the patient but for their loved ones who quickly become carers and find themselves navigating unfamiliar services, new medications, side effects, and the emotional toll of seeing someone they love become unwell or frightened.
“These challenges are often heightened in rural communities, where distance from treatment hospitals and wider wraparound care can add further pressure.
“That is why Tracey’s story is so important. It highlights the need for carers to seek support early, whether through friends and family, Macmillan Cancer Support services, or other local charities, before things become overwhelming. It is vital to #NipItInTheBud and look after your own wellbeing so you can continue to care for your loved one.”