University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers said that as cancer care begins to address the emotional needs of patients, it's important to address the caregiver's emotional needs as well.

Lead study author Laurel Northouse had 235 men with prostate cancer and their spouses complete a series of questionnaires addressing physical and emotional health.

The couples were randomly assigned to receive a special family based intervention -- FOCUS short for family involvement, optimistic attitude, coping effectiveness, uncertainty reduction and symptom management -- a program that included three 90-minute home visits by nurses and two 30-minute phone sessions over the course of four months.

The study, published in the journal Cancer, found that while patients reported some improvements after the FOCUS intervention but the spouses had significantly more benefit.

"We need to provide more care and concern to the family caregiver of cancer patients," Northouse said in a statement. "They have a vital role. We can no longer leave them in the waiting room or on the sidelines."