Cancer patients are likely to experience elevated stress levels at varying points during their treatment. In one study, roughly 20% to 62% of cancer patients experience distress following a new diagnosis or recurrence. Even after the completion of their treatment, some patients may manifest symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. For them and their families, the emotional impact of cancer is difficult to overlook.
The physical ordeal of cancer often gets the most attention, but it’s just as important for healthcare providers and loved ones to acknowledge its far-reaching effects on the human mind. It’s overwhelming enough to undergo treatment, and dealing with the cognitive and emotional effects of cancer is on a different level. The guide below should show you just what it takes to stay mentally grounded.
1. Building a Support Group
You can never go wrong with a network of both professionals and loved ones who know what you’re going through and will not hesitate to offer a helping hand. Anxiety and depression are likely to set in if you don’t have accountability partners who can share in your journey, so keep them close to you. You may also need experts who can walk you through the medical and legal dimensions of your cancer journey.
A good oncologist can provide a personalized treatment plan that comes with social and mental dimensions, while a lawyer can help you get compensated in case you were deliberately exposed to cancer-inducing environments. For the latter, check out https://www.lungcancergroup.com/legal/lung-cancer-law-firm/ for the resources you need. You might also want to join an in-person group of cancer survivors or current patients. Knowing that you’re not alone should give you some measure of hope as you go through this challenging time.
2. Take Each Day One Small Step at a Time
Thinking about your next chemotherapy sessions and your growing treatment bill is already too much, as you also need to make everyday decisions. For sure, it’s difficult to live normally knowing you have a debilitating condition, but over time, you will learn to live with it. The key is to give yourself fewer worries by simplifying your life. Because you’re overwhelmed by your condition, you will want to start the first few days slowly until you develop a normal rhythm.
You can do this by keeping to a routine that provides you with balance and allows you to conserve energy for what matters the most. By coming up with a daily program, you can steer clear of negative thoughts and accomplish a sense of fulfillment.
3. Train Your Memory and Thinking Skills
As your treatment advances, you will start to experience symptoms that affect your cognitive abilities the most. Sure enough, one study found that chemotherapy sessions have resulted in cognitive impairments in 75% of cancer patients, many of whom experience a decline in spatial awareness, concentration, and even processing information.
Also known as “chemo brain,” this side effect could also lead to behavioral dysfunctions that may persist long after a patient recovers. Dealing with this would require performing cognitive tasks that can help stimulate your cognitive abilities, considering that no known drug could inhibit “chemo brain.” Focus on tasks that improve information recall, such as reading or playing your favorite musical instrument.
4. Get as Much Rest as You Need
Surviving the effects of your last chemotherapy session requires a great deal of mental fortitude. You may notice that doing even the least demanding tasks becomes tedious as you become more prone to getting tired. This is normal, but it’s also something that doesn’t go away if you continue forcing yourself towards normalcy.
A holistic recovery depends largely on how well you respond to the physically and mentally demanding challenges you confront each day. You can’t expect things to go back to the way they were, so take a rest. If you have to use your leave credits to travel, make the most of them to refresh your mind.
Endnote
While struggling with your condition, know that as a cancer patient, you have a fighting chance to live normally. All it takes is knowing how to get started.