Depression

The occurrence of depression is present in all stages of the cancer journey. The pooled prevalence of depression in cancer patients is estimated to be between 8 – 24% depending upon the treatment plan, the diagnosis, and the phase of their treatment, as well as other social and demographic factors. Even if an individual does not experience clinical depression, the possibility for intense sadness to become present at any time is very real. Working with a psycho-oncologist can help you develop tools to cope with those lows– and provide perspective to better acknowledge and embrace the highs. 

Please remember, depression should always be taken seriously. If your negative thoughts are getting more frequent and harder to cope with, don’t hesitate to reach out to a medical or mental health professional and request an appointment.  

Anxiety

Cancer is in essence a practice in living with uncertainty, which triggers anxiety in most people. Cancer can overwhelm you with pervasive thoughts and scattered emotions. The kinds of worry or anxiety can change over the course of the cancer experience. One place your mind naturally wanders is the unknown and seeking order and predictability.. You don’t know what to expect with your endless appointments, or how your cancer will respond to treatment. You don’t know who will be there for you when you need it or how long you’ll be waiting for appointments, test results, or when “normalcy” will return to your life. “Scanxiety” is the common experience of feeling increased anxiety or worry when anticipating surveillance exams – such as blood tests, imaging or medical exams. Usually people find both reassurance and fears of recurrence are caused by scans. It is important to recognize this as common and expected. If possible, schedule scans early in the week so that you can have your appointment with your doctor during the same week and avoid feeling worried over the weekend. Also, discuss with your providers about the recommendations for you to review your test results on your own. Misinterpreting test results can lead to unnecessary anxiety and panic in some thrivers.   When your mind wanders to all the questions and it can’t answer, it can be effective to find ways to redirect your thinking to the present moment and focus on the things you can control, rather than the things that feed the worry.

Changes in Body Image

Your body goes through a variety of changes throughout the cancer journey. Psychologically your relationship to your body is likely to change – even temporarily. Some cancer treatments include amputations that change a person’s appearance and in some cases their physical functioning. Cancer and treatment can also cause loss of weight, hair, pigmentation– all of which cause a person to appear different than they did before cancer treatments. Part of this plays into the conversation of grief– and the loss of your former appearance, the “healthy you.” While the physical effects are very real, the connection we place between our self-worth and our physical appearance can cause significant issues with body image. Lowered self-esteem can affect your desire for social engagement or intimacy. Open communication with loved ones can help minimize any unrealistic expectations you may have regarding your body image. Patience with the holistic process of physical and emotional healing can be difficult; but cannot be underestimated.

Cancer can change most areas of life, including your standards for beauty. Redefine what “beautiful” and “healthy” means to you. –Thrivers find power in feeling strength and resilience in what they have overcome.

Fear of Recurrence 

Even if you’ve been in remission for a long time, the fear that cancer will come back remains present for most thrivers. Sometimes these fears are brought on by milestones in the cancer journey or news– good or bad– about others you know who are managing the illness. Coping with the very real fear you have while acknowledging the state of your current health condition can be a struggle to balance– especially when life doesn’t come with guarantees. It is important to talk openly with your doctor about your concerns and learn about risk factors. It is important to seek clarity about your post-treatment longterm survivorship or surveillance plan. It is also important to request clear guidance about symptoms to watch and who to contact.  Stay focused on thoughts and activities and connections that lead you to feel strong and well and grounded. Realize that your healthy lifestyle choices are active ways to make the most of your life and remember to  seek support when you need it.

Guilt 

It’s common to not want to be a burden to others, or to feel guilty when asking for help, even if you really need it. Survivors may also experience guilt wondering why they survived, while others didn’t. Make sure to address these feelings to avoid developing a prolonged sense of guilt. Talking to those in your life can help you see their perspective and reframe guilt into more positive emotions. A cancer experience can lead to many psycho-spiritual and existential questions about the human experience. There can be profound opportunities for deep personal growth if you allow it. 

Few individuals escape the emotional toll that comes with a cancer experience. If you are ready to speak with a professional therapist who can help you define the emotional impacts and develop tools to manage them through your cancer journey and in your day to day life reach out to the team at Shift Health Psychology. Our combined experience with psycho-oncology allows our team to support your positive journey living and thriving with cancer.