Kathrin Milbury, PhD, assistant professor of Integrative Medicine Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the importance of spouse and caregiver self care when tending to someone with lung cancer. 

Milbury said that when a person becomes a caregiver to his/her husband or wife, the individual tends to neglect their personal health and care, which ends up being very detrimental. 

Getting back into a spousal relationship, where both partners support one another, proves very beneficial, Milbury emphasizes. Not only does it relieve stress, but when the patient is supporting his or her spouse in whatever ways possible, he/she feels empowered and useful, which can have a huge effect on quality of life. 

Videos

Kathrin Milbury on the Importance of Spousal Self Care

Kathrin Milbury, PhD, assistant professor of Integrative Medicine Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses caregiver burden in spouses of patients with lung cancer. 

In a small study analyzing 30 patients with advanced lung cancer and their spouses, Milbury found that spouses overestimated the extent to which patients experience symptoms. When the caregiver becomes hyper-vigilant to the needs of the patient, he or she tends to neglect their own medical needs. 

Milbury and other researchers developed interventions using a team approach to help patients and caregivers relate to each other. Emotional support, including listening, physical presence, and expressing love, affection, and care, is the most significant source of support in caregiving, Milbury says. 

Milbury says that putting patients in an active role as opposed to being the recipient of support will empower them and give them a sense of purpose in their relationship. 

Articles

Kathrin Milbury on Caregiver Burden in Spouses

Kathrin Milbury, PhD, assistant professor of Integrative Medicine Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the concept of protective buffering. 

Through her research and previous studies, Milbury found that patients and their spouses oftentimes do not share their concerns or burdens in order to protect each other. The lack of communication can alienate spouses from one another and increase distress and symptom burden. 

Communication becomes even more relevant in patients with advanced disease as it applies to end of life planning and decision making in regards to treatment, palliative care, and hospice care, Milbury says. 

Kathrin Milbury Discusses Protective Buffering

Kathrin Milbury, PhD, assistant professor of Integrative Medicine Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses spouse distress in couples coping with lung cancer. 

In a small study, Milbury analyzed 30 patients with advanced lung cancer and their spouses. Patients and spouses each answered questionnaires about their own symptoms as well as their perception of their spousesâ€™ symptoms. 

Milbury found that patients were able to accurately identify their caregiversâ€™ symptom burden, but spouses overestimated the extent to which patients experience symptoms. The analysis also showed that overestimation of patientsâ€™ symptoms was associated with the caregiverâ€™s anxiety. 

The study also found that lack of cancer-related communication resulted in greater symptom burden in both patients and spouses, including distress, anxiety, and depression. 

Kathrin Milbury, PhD, assistant professor of Integrative Medicine Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses spouse distress in couples coping with lung cancer. 


Kathrin Milbury, PhD

Articles

Kathrin Milbury on the Importance of Spousal Self Care

Kathrin Milbury on Caregiver Burden in Spouses

Kathrin Milbury Discusses Protective Buffering

Kathrin Milbury on Spouse Distress in Couples Coping with Lung Cancer