Amy's story: What it's like caring for my dad who has cancer

Amy Jones is 20 and is a full-time carer.

Her dad Pete has advanced prostate cancer and needs 24-hour care.

She says her mum isn't emotionally available to help with her dad's care and her sister is still at school.

Every day Amy cooks, cleans and helps her dad with his medication.

Speaking to Newsbeat, Amy says "You don't know how strong you are until you have to be."

Amy's dad Pete has advanced prostate cancer

Charity Macmillan Cancer Support says there needs to be more support for young carers like Amy.

In the UK the charity says there are more than 127,000 16 to 24-year-olds looking after someone with the disease, that's gone up by 30,000 in 5 years.

More people are living longer with cancer and that means there are more cancer carers in the UK.

Amy and her dad Pete, who's apparently camera shy!

Amy's story

Amy gave up college in January to care for her dad full-time.

"I haven't really seen my friends since my dad got diagnosed. I haven't really had a social life.

"It's pretty hard sometimes because I don't really have anyone to talk to."

"I'm constantly tired. I get about 5 hours of sleep a night.

"He gets poorly during the night and he wakes up about four times.

"I give him a dose of morphine, sleeping pills and steroids. I don't mind though, it helps my dad."

Amy's day

6am: Wake up and help dad out of bed. Give him medication.

9am: Food shopping and pay the bills. Clean the house.

2pm: Give dad medication, make sure he's ok.

4pm: Cook evening meal

5pm Sit down and have dinner

6pm Dad goes for nap

7pm Take temperature, give more medication.

8pm Watch TV with dad

11pm: Make sure dad's OK then go to bed.

2am: Wake up and give dad medication.

4am: Wake up and give dad medication.

6am: Wake up and give dad medication.

Amy says she gets around five hours of sleep a night

Where can you get support and help?

Newsbeat spoke to John Newlands, a senior cancer information nurse on the Macmillan Support line.

"The thing about young people is that don't see themselves as carers, things like helping out with housework, shopping, looking after brothers and sisters when someone has cancer in your family, that's being a carer.

"It's a vital role but it often goes unrecognised and often young people carrying out that role don't get the help and support they need

"When you are a young person being a carer can impact on your finances, job, education and relationships.

"You can get help from a teacher, a trusted friend, or by phoning the Macmillan Support line but the vital message is that you can get help."

If you're a carer like Amy and need some support then Macmillan can help. There's also loads of information and help on the BBC advice pages.

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