WORKING full-time and caring for her husband while he was going through treatment for prostate cancer, Bernadette Hartnett admitted she constantly felt tired.

But she said she had to keep going.

"That was the only way," she said.

Queensland Cancer Council research shows some carers of cancer patients have higher levels of stress than the people they care for.

Mrs Hartnett said sometimes carers needed just as much support as patients themselves.

She said luckily they had many friends around them to turn to, including some who would help drive Mr Hartnett to treatment while Mrs Hartnett worked.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent radiation treatment every day for eight weeks, most of the time in Toowoomba.

He has now been cancer free for more than two years.

Mrs Hartnett said most of her time as a carer was spent doing household duties and going with him everywhere.

She also said her role meant being there for emotional support.

"He needed more support," Mrs Hartnett said.

"When he told me he had cancer he was really down.

"I was down too but I didn't really show it to him.

"You need to be strong as well.

"The more you show worry - it's not helping him much.

"The only (thing) I could do was just to support."

If Mrs Hartnett could change something for carers, it would be to make more funding available.

"If there was more funding available for carers, someone could have come to my place and look after my husband and give me a break.

"I would (have needed) two hours. I'd be happy.

"It would be really good if there was more funding for carers.

"It is not easy."

Mrs Hartnett said if carers of cancer patients felt like they needed support, to call the Cancer Council helpline.

"It is hard to have someone in your family with cancer," she said.

"That is a part of life you can't avoid."