Oral Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

"I’m not the one with cancer but it’s affecting me just as much": Supporting people living in rural and remote areas who are caring for someone with cancer (#182)

Lizzy Johnston 1 2
  1. Viertel Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  2. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia

Partners, family members, and friends provide vital support to their family and friends diagnosed with cancer but often at a personal cost and with limited preparation or support for their role. This presentation will share findings from research conducted at Cancer Council Queensland with people living in rural and remote areas who are caring for someone with cancer. It will focus on the impact of caring on carers' health behaviours (including diet, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, sleep, social connection and leisure, and accessing healthcare when needed) and carers' experiences seeking support for their own health and wellbeing. In the context of research among carers in rural and remote areas more broadly, this presentation will highlight opportunities for future work to support rural carers' health and wellbeing.