Distance presents a challenge as family members work to gain information about their loved ones and participate in their cancer care. But it’s also challenging to the local caregivers — nurses, doctors and local family members — who must adapt short-term to these remote caregivers’ special needs. In hospitals across the country, such challenges have prompted distance caregivers to be labeled “seagulls” and “pigeons” — references to family members who fly in, make a mess and fly out.