Psycho-oncology.in

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but with the right support and strategies, we can make the journey a bit more manageable. Let's dive in!

On the World Cancer day, we are pleased and happy to reach out to all of you on Integrating Psycho-oncology in Cancer Care'. A niche area of support, that has proven to be highly effective in improving the quality of life of cancer patients and families.
Join us in Psych-educating oneself with Psycho-oncology and its benefits from our inhouse expert Ms. Bincy Mathew, Consultant Psycho-oncologist, Member of WICCI KMHC, India.

Date - 4th February' 22
Time - 7:00 PM IST

Link of the session - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88506233705?pwd=ZlBBeVVKVW5jOFdNbXA4ZngrVjlaUT09

Disclaimer: There are many reasons for taking help from a psychologist. Just highlighting a few.

However Never shy away from talking about the emotional aspects.

Please do take advantage of such services available today for making your treatment journey easy and comfortable. In case if you need help, just talk to your oncologist and they will guide you.

It is very important to take care of your mental, emotional and psychological and social well-being so that it contributes positively towards the best treatment outcome and your own quality of life during the cancer journey.

While communicating with cancer patients, always (and always) try to bring positive energy and be very gentle, but surely ASK about their emotional concerns. The biggest mistake often made by many hospitals today is burdening its doctors with a large number of patients, which in turn will be sometimes counterproductive as they cannot obviously find enough time to spend with their patients in understanding their emotional wellbeing. Or sometimes, these duties are offloaded to untrained staff.

Be it a professional or a caregiver, the right way is to actively LISTEN. Listen to the patients without interrupting. Encourage them to express their feelings and open up. It is okay to have long pauses and silence while engaging in a conversation with patients. A psychologist or psycho-oncologist is trained to bring the best out in such cases but it is important to have this awareness spread among the general public.

Lastly, do not leave them alone and tell them that you are always there to help. Ensure the place is safe and they do not have any access or means with which they can aid themselves to take any tragic steps. Spreading awareness is our duty and responsibility because it is something completely preventable if people are more aware of it.

Tackling Cancer-related fatigue: How to boost your energy

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) or sometimes it is also called Cancer fatigue - which is the persistent physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion (1). This means it is that kind of tiredness that not only affects you physically but also mentally.

If you ask cancer patients, they would describe it as something very hard to talk about, because it can be really overwhelming and obviously difficult to live with. It can affect all areas of your life and is not something that you can ignore.

There could be many reasons for cancer fatigue - such as chemotherapy, a weak immune system, lack of physical exercise, lack of adequate nutrients, disturbed sleep and it could be emotional issues such as depression or a low mood (2). In fact, one can experience cancer fatigue even after the treatment and during the survivorship period (3).

How to Prevent it?
Now let us look at how to manage such situations effectively!
To make it easy, all you have to remember is, three Ps (4). Now, what are they?

Prioritise, Plan and Pace.

It may sound very simple and generic advice but this can be very effective if you try to bring these points consciously into your daily routine.

Prioritise- During this point in time, you should know what is urgent/ important and what can wait, then prioritise it in that order. Ask yourself, can I also delegate some work to my friends and family, then do that.

Plan, Once you have a priority list, all you need to do is, create a PLAN around how to get things done. It is easier to focus on things when you have a plan in mind.

Pace yourself- this is an important one. Taking enough rest is extremely important for you. You should listen to your body and mind and see how much energy you have to do a task. If not, take a break, and get back to it later. Pace yourself.

The cancer patients who take enough rest when they feel tired, they get things done eventually and seem more effective. But the ones who try to just focus on getting things done, they often end up either giving up or unhappy about it, because they stretch too much and they are always tired, it goes in a cycle.

Now, How to reduce the fatigue itself?

We need to find the root cause- figure out what is the reason. It could be a medical or treatment-related condition such as changes in the blood count. Convey it to the Oncologist about your tiredness and you have to be clear about the situation.

Secondly, It could be your own negative thoughts. If you try to make yourself guilty of your condition, then it will play tricks on your mind. Don't allow that to happen and understand that these thoughts aren't facts, worried thoughts are often your wild imagination or interpretation. It is not a fact. If you realise this, then you will be able to manage your negative thoughts. If you find it difficult, then definitely seek help from a counsellor.

Also, fluid intake is very important. Keep hydrated while you do the activities. Do mild exercise. Sometimes you may feel demoralised, but just acknowledge it and start to focus on things that you are able to do.

When you plan a task, aim low and slow to begin with and build up gradually -that always helps. You need to do something you like.

So to conclude..

Remember the three Ps - Prioritise, plan and pace. And be sure to find the root of your problem and address it, avoid negative thoughts, hydrate yourself well, start exercising and most importantly, start small and gain control over what you can accomplish. If you do these, you will successfully overcome your fatigue.

Reference:

Bower J. E. (2014). Cancer-related fatigue--mechanisms, risk factors, and treatments. Nature reviews. Clinical oncology, 11(10), 597–609. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.127
Niedzwiedz, C.L., Knifton, L., Robb, K.A. et al. Depression and anxiety among people living with and beyond cancer: a growing clinical and research priority. BMC Cancer 19, 943 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-6181-4
Corbett, T., Groarke, A., Walsh, J. C., & McGuire, B. E. (2016). Cancer-related fatigue in post-treatment cancer survivors: application of the common sense model of illness representations. BMC cancer, 16(1), 919. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-016-2907-8
Barsevick, A. M., Newhall, T., & Brown, S. (2008). Management of cancer-related fatigue. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 12(5 Suppl), 21–25. https://doi.org/10.1188/08.CJON.S2.21-25

Taking on the role of caregiver can be one of the most important — and overwhelming — jobs you’ll ever have. In this episode, Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes chats with MSK social worker Jacob Maier about what you need to know and how to care for yourself while caregiving.

Please listen to the podcast...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cancer-caregivers-navigating-stress-worry-other-challenges/id1531529982?i=1000531479900&fbclid=IwAR07U2GMkNuNglMrU0wKSHCmmpLDj6Utz7bRGl7oU_K4Syp_9N1j5-zBDC0

‎Cancer Straight Talk From MSK: Cancer and Caregivers: Navigating Stress, Worry, and Other Challenges on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Cancer Straight Talk From MSK, Ep Cancer and Caregivers: Navigating Stress, Worry, and Other Challenges - Aug 9, 2021

"Colorful, plant-based foods are filled with phytonutrients, which are healthy chemicals produced by plants that provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits,” says Deanna Minich, Ph.D., founder of the Certified Food & Spirit Practitioner Program and author of The Rainbow Diet.

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/why-may-time-try-rainbow-202300738.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2ZlZWQv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAA2nk8F_QMQLEeBfxJh76f3or0hfZlEpGBjuAOOS_h_fPVgEZMlA0YQHxYhzhIsBUDOowk2e-YeFkLCMZ5bZ_xW61vwOLp0NH7yhPz1pJqCST1w0L_yNTs1dtxXjPssKsw-fKB5Gujikasmu_qjfbaMi4IbIq7LJYbaD1jgljhV-&guccounter=2

Why It May Be Time to Try the Rainbow Diet In a world of fad eating plans, consuming plants from each color of the rainbow on a regular basis is a simple, safe way to stay healthy.

Emotional and Psychological Effects of Lung Cancer

Mr T is 62 years old, diagnosed with stage 4- lung cancer and was under chemotherapy. One day during the chemotherapy, he was unusually silent and evidently gloomy. When enquired he was reluctant to talk in the beginning, but gradually opened up to one of the healthcare professionals in the team. Mr Tiwari said he feels terribly guilty of being diagnosed with cancer because of his smoking habit. He was using a smoking form of to***co for the last 32 years. His wife and children always begged him to quit the habit but he never even tried. When he said this, his head was hung in shame and could barely look into anyone’s eye. He said it makes him feel eerily lonely these days even though everyone is there and supports him with his treatment. Mr Tiwari took a long breath and lied down for the procedure. To him, it is a self-inflicted injury and he is experiencing a range of emotions when he looks back at his own past and responsibilities towards his wife and children.

One can find many such cases where people go through self-blame, guilt, and embarrassment about their past behaviour for having been diagnosed with cancer. Cancer often takes a toll on one’s emotional, psychological well being and unfortunately, we tend to overlook these symptoms when focusing too much on the other aspects of the treatment.

Lung Cancer. Where are we?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated death of 1.79 million deaths due to lung cancer. approximately one in 6 cancer deaths worldwide (1). GLOBOCAN (2020) suggests that it is the second most common cancer globally and the fourth most common cancer in India (2). Studies have established that to***co smoke and second-hand smoking is directly responsible for lung cancer (3). The other risk factors such as exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) such as asbestos, radon, uranium etc., family history of lung cancer and so on (4).

With this article, I want to bring attention to the psychological hurdles faced by lung cancer patients during their treatment journey and provide some practical advice to uplift their quality of life.

Psychosocial aspects of Lung cancer

It is never easy for both patients and caregivers once they have been diagnosed with any kind of cancer, even more so if people are not prepared enough or ready to accept reality. Like in the case of Mr Tiwari it is evident that not just him but also his family members too experience a lot of emotional and psychological issues as it was something they were aware of and hoping for not to happen. Yet they were not blaming him for what happened as he was already going through the shock himself. Although it may be the right thing to do from a caregiver perspective, it was only creating more trouble for the patient’s emotional wellbeing in contrast to what the family was expecting.

Many lung cancer patients experience significantly poorer general health status and more other psychological problems. For example, whether they have used to***co or not, patients feel stigmatised because of its strong association with smoking. It is certainly true that around 20 per cent of people who develop cancer have never smoked or used any form of to***co in their life. Patients often experience the dual whammy of the cancer diagnosis when they have ignored the constant requests in the past from their dear and near ones to quit their to***co habits. Sometimes invariably the conversations by the friends and family would happen around how it could have been avoided, which will make the patient feel more confined and develop a sense of isolation leading to severe anxiety and sometimes even depression.

Another major issue faced by long time smokers is to quit their hard habits after the diagnosis and if the person is already feeling guilty, it becomes incredibly hard for the patients during the treatment journey. Recently a study which was conducted in India found that 32.4% of patients continued to use to***co during their treatment period. It is practically not easy for everyone to just wake up one day and quit such habits.

Unfortunately more often than not, many fail to recognize these problems faced by the patients and do not seek psychological help even though they are severely distressed affecting everyone's quality of life and eventually reducing the treatment outcome.

Seek help from a to***co cessation therapist if needed:
If the patient is a long term to***co user and finds it difficult to quit even after the diagnosis, then reach out to a to***co cessation therapist who can help them quit the habit through step by step methods.

Seek Psychological Support:
It is quite normal to experience emotional distress during cancer treatment. If the patient seems to have severe anxiety or depression, then definitely seek psychological support. In case the patient or their loved one finds it difficult to get the support you need, then check with your oncology team for finding the right support you need.

Attend Support Group meeting:
Support groups are wonderful platforms for learning from those who have gone through similar situations. If you are comfortable with sharing your thoughts with other members, then a support group always helps. In case if you need more time to adjust with others, be there for some time and understand the situation. If you find yourself too difficult to fit in that group, then don't force yourself to.

Take one day at a time:
During the cancer journey, a lot of negative emotions can naturally creep in adding fuel to the fire. Many patients and their caregivers develop deep cravings to know their future than being in the present. It only spoils their present-day quality of life. In fact, no one really knows what the next day is going to be like- hope is the only thing that keeps everyone moving forward. But when negative emotions overpower that ‘hope’ people lose control of their present. Patients and their loved one don't blame themselves for causing their cancer. Even though because of their smoking or alcohol habit, they have developed cancer, there is no actual benefit in blaming yourself or others. Coping with cancer is always best when we take one day at a time and value our present.

Reference

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancerhttps://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/900-world-fact-sheets.pdf
2. Furrukh M. (2013). To***co Smoking and Lung Cancer: Perception-changing facts. Sultan Qaboos University medical journal, 13(3), 345–358. https://doi.org/10.12816/0003255
3. Field, R. W., & Withers, B. L. (2012). Occupational and environmental causes of lung cancer. Clinics in chest medicine, 33(4), 681–703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2012.07.001
4. Polanski, J., Jankowska-Polanska, B., Rosinczuk, J., Chabowski, M., & Szymanska-Chabowska, A. (2016). Quality of life of patients with lung cancer. OncoTargets and therapy, 9, 1023–1028. https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S100685

, 49 years old was a single mom when she was diagnosed with . She underwent chemo and radiation, finally defeated it bravely. She was faithful in her routine breast self-exam and caught it at early-stage. She is raising about breast cancer through her ‘ ’.

Don't spend your precious energy worrying about how others view your disease...

Very important. One day at a time

One day at a time ✨

Pain Management and Palliative Care Awareness

For some people, cancer treatment takes a long time and demands a great deal of patience and fortitude. Along the cancer journey, a lot of negative emotions naturally creep in, adding fuel to the fire. Many patients develop a deep craving to know their future, more than staying in the present. It only weakens their present-day quality of life. In fact, no one really knows what the next day is going to bring. Hope is the only thing that keeps us moving forward. But when negative emotions overpower that hope, you can lose control of the here and now. Coping with cancer is always best when you take one day at a time and value the present. Only then will you experience a renewed frame of mind.

***coday ***co

When some people are diagnosed with cancer, they feel their life has come to a sudden halt. No one is really prepared to face such situations in life, and it is normal to feel helplessness over what is to come next. When morale is down, the spirit is broken and things start to go in a downward spiral. This is when a psycho-oncologist (psychologist specializing in cancer care) comes into the picture. Their expertise can really help you and your caregiver get back on track. However, the cultural stigma and misconceptions associated with mental health are still a hurdle in many parts of the world. Ignoring the psychological aspects of illness can be a big mistake during cancer care and can directly affect the treatment outcome. Therefore, getting in touch with the right people at the right time is critical, and a psycho-oncologist (psychologist who specializes in cancer care) is definitely one of them.

In our society, there are many unfounded myths and misconceptions about cancer. As a result, some people with the disease do not speak about it in public, and sometimes they even hide it from their own families, who also are reluctant to share. Remember, cancer treatment is a real race against time with no room for delaying it, unless there is a valid reason. As you run to the finish line and reach a cure, you must confide in others to gain support. Times have changed. Modern-day medicine has so many advanced treatment options for all types of cancers, and timely diagnosis is the key. More dialog is needed to remove the cultural silence around the disease so that people can be more open about it and increase their chance of a cure.

Cancer doesn’t have to mean the end. Fear is so rooted in peoples’ minds to the extent that a cancer patient might not want to reveal the diagnosis. Even today, at many parts of the world there is a total cultural silence reigns at the mention of the word. This reticence can put tremendous pressure on patients on the receiving end. According to scientific studies, 65% of cancer patients experience on-going psychological distress. If it continues without getting the right remedy and proper support, it may lead to long-term psychological and even physical health issues. However, the good news is that things have changed a lot, and medical science has improved a great deal. Nevertheless, with cancer, the time is right to get help. Coming out of silence is the key to coping. Therefore, it is wise to come forward and be more open to sharing as well as listening.

Imagine yourself in the shoes of someone diagnosed with cancer. What would your reaction be? No matter how strong you think you are, the initial moments will likely shake you really hard. Of course, it will be different from person to person. Some of the common feelings are shock, denial, anger, sadness, pain, guilt, numb, and depression. And these emotions change so fast within a short period of time to a point where you may have trouble sleeping, eating, and even doing your daily tasks. While this is true, it is important to know that it is as normal as it can be. You have the capacity to overcome these feelings and win over negative thoughts no matter how hard it might be. In the end, you will prevail. You just need to find the way that works for you and that will change the game for good.

Telling stories can be a powerful way to heal the wounds in our lives, some of which may come from chronic diseases. When people share their experiences and stories about cancer, it is not only very inspiring for those in the midst of the journey, but the tellers are also helping themselves to heal and celebrate. Sharing is caring, and stories are the best medium to pass on the joy of living.

Tips for the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients during COVID-19

“Tips for the emotional wellbeing of cancer patients during COVID-19”
https://link.medium.com/YlQFtbI3C5

medium.com The 9th of April 2020 marked 100 days since the first cases of “pneumonia with unknown cause” in Wuhan, China which would later be known…

How to manage psychological stress in the times of COVID-19 - ecancer

How to manage Psychological distress in the times of COVID-19.

ecancer.org Dr Soumitra Datta speaks to ecancer about the psychological stresses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and how these can be managed effectively. He

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Pandemics, social distancing, and getting stuff done: Reflections from an AYA cancer survivor.

Top 5 pieces of advice from AYA Cancer survivor.

https://www.behaviouralsciencesunit.org/blog/pandemics-social-distancing-and-getting-stuff-done-reflections-from-an-aya-cancer-survivor

behaviouralsciencesunit.org In 2007, I was 13 years old. Instead of starting high school, I was starting a 2 ½ year treatment for relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). The whole goal of the first year of my treatment...