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FOR THE PATIENT

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Depression And Anxiety

There is a connection between chronic illnesses and cancer and psychiatric disorders such as clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD as a direct result of the illness or the treatments for the condition. 

  • Anticipation Anxiety is a dominant type of anxiety within the cancer population that has to do with fear and anxiety concerning continual follow-up appointments with oncologists and regular cancer tests and results to confirm.  Waiting for results are always a trigger for anxiety. 

  • Depression and Anxiety:  The symptoms of depression could be related to either the cancer self or the treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, hormone treatment or to clinical depression self.  Depression is known to have an influence on the outcome of cancer treatment and even mortality.  It also influences the quality of your life, therefore early detection and treatment of these conditions is of great value. Poorly managed depression can lead to emotional suffering, anxiety and poorer quality of life which can cause intensification of physical symptoms, increased functional impairment and prevention of returning to a pre-illness level of functioning. 

  • Fatigue from chemotherapy is associated with feelings of depression and hopelessness Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy all have the capacity to cause fatigue which can persist many years into survivorship. There are very specific skills to learn to live with fatigue.

  • Psychological trauma is caused by occurrences or experiences which are sudden and unexpected as in a cancer diagnosis, where there is a dramatic loss of personal control and safety. Symptoms associated with PTSD are recurrent, involuntary and intrusive distressing memories, flashbacks and/or dreams of the traumatic event.

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Chronicity

  • Cancer, even when in remission, is defined as a chronic condition because of the lifelong follow-up appointments with your oncologist to check on your cancer status or chronic treatment for a cancer that is not in remission but not busy with active treatment either.

  • In the framework of a chronic condition a person must be well informed and prepared for the complex rehabilitation process involving both the biological and the psychological changes and challenges and often persistent symptoms of depression or anxiety after the end of treatment.     

  • With cancer care there is a continuity and severity of the adverse effects of cytotoxic drugs (chemotherapy) and hormonal therapy after treatment or even when in remission which can affect a person both psychologically and biologically. 

  • It can be a difficult transition to move from an acute and active cancer patient to “beyond” the treatment stage (at the end of treatment or remission) and must be acknowledged by the oncology team.  A lack of preparation for the re-entry phase (remission) can leave to feeling in a state of limbo without the necessary skills to learn to live with the chronicity of cancer.

If not referred by your oncology team – ask for a referral to a psychologist to help with the psychological hardships and adaption in your cancer journey and to guide, you and your loved ones to live a life of good quality. 

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Paliative Care

  • The primary goal of palliative care is to provide comfort and care for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

  • Palliative care improves the quality of life of individuals and their families’ facing difficulties associated with a life-threatening illness through the prevention and relief of suffering by ways of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and problems concerning physical, psychosocial and spiritual factors.

  • Palliative care is also about helping and supporting families to cope during their loved ones’ illnesses and into their own bereavement.

  • There is increased existential distress, anxiety and anticipatory grief at the end of life.  Although these feelings are normal, it might still need psychological attention.

  • To talk about your feelings and angst about your loved ones can bring a form of acceptance and peace and also gives the reassurance that there will be support and counselling for them. 

  • I often found in my practise that, at the end of a patient’s life, there is a natural progression Of death acceptance and peaceful awareness as death approached, but that the immediate family, especially if they were also the main care takers, often present with symptoms of depression and need some guidance in their grieving process. 

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Psychotherapy

  • Emotional support and intervention for adjusting to diagnosis and treatment.  Emotional expression during therapy can have a positive effect for it allows the person to be aware of their feelings and cognitions, deal with it and become aware of choices they can make to lessen some of their distress.  

  • Therapeutic skills help building mental resilience and empowering the mind for better quality of life while with the limitations of cancer. 

  • Preparing the patient and family with knowledge about the illness and treatment and side-effects during alle stages of cancer learning practical, emotional and behavioural skills to help with life adjustments and management of self-awareness and emotions.

  • Therapy will give you tools to help guiding you in your “new normal” with new confidence over life’s challenges in the here and now. 

  • emotional distress has lately been defined as the sixth vital sign in cancer care and plays a dynamic role in treatment outcome.  

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