FOR THE PATIENT
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.
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Both depression and anxiety could be related to either the cancer self or the treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and hormone treatment. Depression is known to have an influence on the outcome of cancer treatment and even mortality and can influences the quality of your life. Poorly managed depression can lead to emotional suffering and anxiety, which can cause intensification of physical symptoms, increased functional impairment and prevention of returning to a pre-illness level of functioning.
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Anticipation Anxiety is a dominant type of anxiety when diagnosed with cancer that has to do with fear concerning continual follow-up appointments and regular cancer tests. Waiting for results are always a trigger for anxiety.
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Fatigue from chemotherapy is also 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.
Chronicity
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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 in active treatment either.
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In the framework of a chronic condition a person must be well informed and prepared for the complex rehabilitation process involving both biological and psychological changes and challenges and often persistent symptoms of depression or anxiety after the end of treatment.
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Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy can have belated side-effects for a long time after the end of treatment.
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It can be a difficult transition to move from an acute and active cancer patient to “beyond” the treatment stage.
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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.
Palliative Care
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The primary goal of palliative care is to provide comfort and care for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. It is about helping and supporting families to cope during their loved ones’ illnesses and into their own bereavement.
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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 and support.
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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.
Psychotherapy
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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.
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Therapeutic skills help building mental resilience and empowering the mind for better quality of life while with the limitations of cancer.
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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.
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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.
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emotional distress has lately been defined as the sixth vital sign in cancer care and plays a dynamic role in treatment outcome.