November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize individuals who provide essential support to those facing health challenges. In Vermont, caregiving is a reality for 135,000 people—most of them women—who step in to help with daily tasks like meal preparation, medication management, and finances. The average caregiver in Vermont is 52 years old, caring for someone around age 70. 

When cancer enters the picture, caregiving takes on a unique intensity. 

“With cancer, oftentimes it's an intense and short period of caring,” says Maija Reblin, PhD, Program Co-Leader of the Population Sciences and Cancer Outcomes program at the UVM Cancer Center. "No one plans to become a cancer caregiver. Sometimes you don't have time to learn your role and get used to things.” 

Unlike chronic conditions that stretch over years, cancer care often demands all-hands-on-deck support during treatment cycles, surgeries, and recovery periods. This can mean juggling work schedules, arranging transportation, and managing household responsibilities—all while navigating the emotional weight of the patient’s cancer diagnosis. 

Caregivers also provide what Dr. Reblin calls “invisible support”—the behind-the-scenes work that clears the way for patients to focus on healing. From coordinating appointments to handling everyday tasks, this labor is vital but rarely acknowledged as active caregiving. 

In rural states like Vermont, travel can be a barrier for caregivers. “Treatment and follow-up appointments require a lot more planning,” Reblin says. “If a caregiver wants to be at that appointment to hear what's going on, they've got to take off work.” 

While it’s hard to quantify how many of Vermont’s caregivers are supporting cancer patients, one thing is clear: For every cancer patient, there’s likely at least one caregiver—and often many more. 

Are you a caregiver? Consider adding your information to the Caregiver Survey so we can learn more about your needs: go.uvm.edu/caregiver  

For caregiver resources, go to go.uvm.edu/careresources