Robert's story
Jane Collins was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007. Her life took a dramatic change after being told she had only a few weeks to live - and so did her husband Robert’s.
Jane passed away in late 2009 and until then, Robert was Jane’s full time carer. The couple, who lived in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, went on a journey that saw them coming to terms with Jane’s diagnosis and a change in her health.
Robert is the first to acknowledge the fantastic support they received from the health professionals involved with Jane’s care including their GP, oncologist specialist nurse and Macmillan Cancer Support. Robert said: “The advice and guidance they provided helped us both cope under the circumstances, especially when we first found out about the diagnosis.
“Jane could be left feeling very tired and lethargic. Each day was a challenge and at times she was very dependent on me. As much as I did for Jane, I never saw this as anything more than a loving husband being there for his wife. I didn’t recognise myself as a carer for some time.”
It wasn’t until Robert attended a network day for cancer sufferers and their families and found out about Caring with Confidence that he realised he might be a carer. Caring with Confidence provided Robert with an opportunity to meet other people in a similar situation, gather new ideas to make him an even better carer and importantly learn to look after himself.
Robert added: “I always thought I was doing things right in terms of Jane’s care but I often doubted myself. Caring with Confidence helped me to take a step back from everything and feel more assured. I learnt to take things one day at a time keep a positive attitude, striving to change the things I could and living with the things I had no affect over.”