Coping with Cancer Diagnosis

Being diagnosed with cancer drastically alters one’s life. In addition to all the physical stress from the medical procedures and treatment, the psychological impacts of a diagnosis can heavily decrease one’s quality of life and negatively impact the wellbeing of themselves and their families. Common causes of distress in those affected by cancer are the fear of death, side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, struggling to maintain jobs and relationships, and the dread of the illness reoccuring in oneself. However, developing adaptive coping mechanisms can allow patients and caregivers to mitigate the distress caused by cancer and maintain a positive mindset throughout treatment and recovery. Here are 5 methods proven to be effective in dealing with stress caused by cancer:

1. Coming to terms with your reality

Many patients retreat into a denial state when confronted by the reality that they are facing cancer. This is in effort to mitigate the overwhelmingness of a serious illness. They deny their reality in an attempt to escape the pain, but ironically, it can cause even more negative impacts on their lives. While denial can temporarily enable a patient to have time to come to terms with their illness, long term avoidance can prevent them from being able to constructively cope with their distress, resulting in poor psychological adjustment.  Accepting the reality of living with cancer allows one to proactively seek out the best treatment options, understand the severity and impacts of their illness, and motivate them to heal and recover. This mindset enables a patient of cancer to have a smoother psychological and emotional adjustment. 

2. Reaching out to a support system

Having a support system to rely and express your thoughts and emotions to is essential for both the physiological and psychological aspects of overcoming cancer. Countless studies show the correlation between presence of social support networks and improved quality of life. Building a personal support system of family, close friends, and professionals can help one focus on their treatment and recovery. Even if you know someone is struggling with cancer, offering small acts of kindness such as cooking a meal or running a quick errand can make all the difference. While friends and family can be great outlets to relieve overwhelming emotions, oftentimes, more help is needed to adjust to the major life changes one undergoes. Seeking support through dedicated cancer support networks can help you connect to those who may be going through similar experiences as you. Professional help via psychiatrists, therapists, psycho-oncologists, and social workers is also extremely beneficial to receive. While there may be a societal stigma around receiving mental health support, taking the action to seek help when you need it can break that stigma and improve one's quality of life tremendously.

3. Living a healthy lifestyle

Physical and mental health are both heavily interlinked with one another. Having an unhealthy and unbalanced lifestyle can exacerbate the negative psychological outcomes that arise with a cancer diagnosis. Maintaining a well-balanced diet and consuming extra whole grains, greens, and antioxidant rich food can help boost your immunity while lowering stress levels. Furthermore, getting light movement every day can boost endorphins, providing healthy dopamine in your brain. It doesn’t need to be extreme cardio or ultra-heavy weights; something as simple as a 20-30 minute walk has been shown to boost well-being and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

4. Review your goals and priorities

Undergoing cancer treatment and recovering may take up large amounts of time from one’s day to day life. Therefore, understanding what really matters to you can help you prioritize how you spend your time. If an activity doesn’t bring you joy or fulfillment, it is best to take this time in recovery to leave it behind and focus on what makes you happy. Going through a cancer diagnosis often leaves one feeling lost and hopeless. However, by setting small and manageable goals for yourself regarding what you want to accomplish, you’ll have a sense of direction and purpose in life.

5. Maintaining hope and optimism

While going through a cancer diagnosis poses daunting obstacles, and medical outcomes don’t always go the ways in which we desire, maintaining a realistic degree of optimism and hope can lower the emotional toll that comes with these hardships. Studies have shown that patients who are optimistic have a better adjustment to their illness and in many cases, are associated with more positive medical outcomes than those who are pessimistic. Maintaining a positive mindset that you will get better and that everything happens for a reason will decrease the risk of psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety developing. Taking initiative to recover and carrying the belief that you will overcome this illness will allow you to mitigate the distress caused by the diagnosis.

Sources:

Mayo Clinic Staff. “Cancer Diagnosis: 11 Tips for Coping.” Mayo Clinic, 28 Sept. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-diagnosis/art-20044544. 

Kneier, Andrew, et al. “Coping with Cancer.” Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, med.stanford.edu/survivingcancer/coping-with-cancer/coping-with-cancer.html.