Navigating each stage…
A cancer diagnosis and its treatments have far-ranging impacts on patients and their families. The early stage of diagnosis is often a “crazy time” waiting for test results and a treatment plan, a team of MDs, and protocols/locations to be chosen. The journey of treatments, changing “new normals,” and their aftermaths pile on stress.
- Partnering with a psychologist–at various stages–provides new ways to practice coping skills, ease distress, and benefit from additional support.
- Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness sometimes can help a person better tolerate treatments such as chemotherapy and recover from surgery faster. Mindfulness practices can further reduce anxiety, depression, and pain which often improve relationships with family, friends, and caregivers.
- When treatments end, others may think you are out of the woods, but you know things have changed. There can be mixed feelings of relief, confusion, fear, and disappointment because of lingering fatigue, neuropathy, and/or other side-effects.
- It is typical for emotional recovery to take longer than physical recovery. There may be “post-treatment blues.” This is normal. Additional issues such as quest for new priorities or fear of recurrence may emerge and need to be addressed.
- Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Knowing you are not alone by seeking help from a therapist, a cancer support group, or other health practitioner may increase ease of coping and comfort.
Balancing care of body-mind-spirit can help better regulate your daily mood. The stories you tell yourself about cancer and its aftermath have direct impact on the quality of your life. There are techniques and practices such as gentler self talk, qigong, tai chi, chair yoga, and mindfulness that can be learned to ease the nervous system and promote healing.
Together, we can develop a self-care plan to best serve you at your own pace and at each stage of your journey.
Hearing the ‘C’ word is scary, but I have learned that the scariness is
decreased if I have the facts and lots of support.
Janice, Breast Cancer Survivor
