Surviving cancer is a great accomplishment, but unfortunately it can also take a mental toll on some survivors. The 25th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day is June 3, 2012, and both experts and cancer survivors are sharing information on mental health issues specific to cancer survivors, as well as coping tips.
An article on Harvard Medical School’s website by Ann MacDonald, the editor of Harvard Health, addresses a few mental and emotional health issues cancer survivors may face.
These include being unable to make many important decisions in life due to “the specter of cancer” hanging over many cancer survivors, feeling “emotionally paralyzed,” having fear that the cancer will return (leading to anxiety), and feeling guilty that they survived when many others have not.
It’s important to recognize psychological issues that can worsen cancer that is still present, as well as understand mental health issues that can be present for people who have cancer that’s in remission.
For people who are still fighting cancer, stress can actually make cancer worse in some cases, according to the National Cancer Institute website.
There have been studies suggesting that stress and other psychological factors can make cancer grow and spread, but it’s uncertain if stress can actually be an initial cause or influencing factor in developing cancer.
Christine Clifford, the CEO and president of The Cancer Club, has been a survivor of cancer for over 18 years, specifically stage III metastatic breast cancer. She has written several books, including “Laugh 'Til It Heals: Notes From the World’s Funniest Cancer Mailbox.”
She believes laughing can help mental health and also the healing process.
“Depression is very common for cancer patients, as well as survivors,” Clifford said.
“We've literally stared death in the face, and the question is always, ‘Will it come back again?’ My advice to cancer patients is to seek help, through the use of psychologists, drug therapy and exercise. Learn to embrace your cancer: You can't change your situation, so instead, ask yourself, ‘How can I make the best of this situation?’"
She said she doesn’t think cancer survivors or patients are more prone to mental health issues than anyone else, but the situation of having cancer can lead to certain mental health issues.
“Self-esteem may go down; fear and anxiety are increased emotions; and feelings of helplessness,” Clifford said.
“But many of these mental health issues are experienced by others not going through a cancer experience, but may have lost their job, gotten divorced, or are dealing with the death of a loved one. We all experience mental health challenges in our everyday lives.”
Clifford has some coping tips for current survivors of cancers:
1) “Research all of the possibilities.”
2) “Don't be afraid to ask people for help.”
3) “Don't forget to laugh. Laughter is a healing force that takes your mind off your current situation; allows you to feel ‘normal’ again; and is good for your health.”
Looking at cancer as a positive change in life can also help give a new perspective to one’s situation.
“Many cancer patients and survivors come out of the experience and like me, feel that the experience was a gift,” Clifford said.
“It changed my life in so many positive ways: strengthened the bonds of my family; renewed my faith; taught me who my friends are -- and who they aren't; opened up new opportunities for me and creative avenues I never knew I had inside of me; and now has taken me around the world to share my message of hope, inspiration and laughter.”
“If my Guardian Angel landed on my shoulder and told me I could go back and change three things in my life, my cancer experience would not be one of them,” she added. “It truly changed my life for the better.”
Steve Havertz, a mental health counselor for over 20 years, experienced the death of his 9-year-old daughter due to a rare form of liver cancer. He has insight into the mental health connection.
“Fear creates anxiety and depression for many,” Havertz said. “I think it can exacerbate mental health issues, but at the same time those who are genetically predisposed to depression will become depressed as a result of any psychological stressor.”
He has several coping tips for cancer survivors:
1) “Distraction skills are the most helpful. That is finding those activities that ‘distract’ you from your current reality. Finding activities that derail your mind off your current reality. Could be physical activities, yoga, walking or riding a bike. Could be mental activities like guided imagery, meditation or self-hypnosis.”
2) “[The] ultimate goal is to work toward accepting the reality of your situation. However, acceptance comes and goes, and just because you accept it one moment, does not mean you don't feel depressed the next. That is why distraction skills are helpful.”
3) “I find serving those who are also suffering can be very useful. You find out that you’re not alone and you find those who are worse off than you. However, as a therapist I cannot tell someone there is another worse off than they are. They need to discover it themselves.”
Sources:
National Cancer Survivors Day. About National Cancer Survivors Day. Web. May 22, 2012.
http://www.ncsd.org/Pages/AboutNCSD.html
MacDonald, Ann. Harvard Health Blog. The mental and emotional challenges of surviving cancer. Web. May 22, 2012.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-mental-and-emotional-challenges-of-surviving-cancer-201103282146
National Cancer Institute. Psychological Stress and Cancer: Questions and Answers. Web. May 22, 2012. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/stress
Clifford, Christine. Email interview. May 22, 2012.
http://www.cancerclub.com
Havertz, Steve. Email interview. May 22, 2012. http://dragonflywings4emmalee.com
Reviewed May 23, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith