1-)Cancer affects the physical well-being of the person as well as the mental well-being. So how is the connection between cancer and depression?
Although depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in the community; It is the most common psychiatric disorder in oncology patients. Although the diagnosis of cancer is considered as a diagnosis of a physical disease, the disease has many negative reflections on the psychosocial life and daily routine functionality of the patient. Therefore, the diagnosis of cancer; It also includes the loss of workforce within the scope of the areas in the individual's life and the negative situations that occur in the psychosocial areas of his/her life. While the diagnosis of cancer is a stressful event for individuals with all its aspects; The meanings that individuals attribute to the disease during this process have a very important effect on psychiatric disorders such as depression that may occur in the person. Chronic diseases have a structure that can recur and recur due to the disease prognosis. Since cancer is one of the chronic diseases, it can cause the formation of anxious, anxious and hopeless thoughts about the future of individuals, since it has a recurrent and recurrent structure. When the person has difficulty in coping with these thoughts, a depressive mood occurs. In individuals during the cancer process; Physical pain, side effects of the treatments being applied, hospitalizations that are on the agenda from time to time, changes in the image of the body are among the factors that make up the connection between cancer and depression.
2-) Depression in cancer patients. How does the risk arise?
We can think of cancer as a family disease that affects both the patient and family members physically and mentally. While the decisions made regarding the treatment processes and methods for cancer are difficult for the individual who is faced with the diagnosis of cancer; Managing and controlling emotional stress can be quite challenging for the person. The patient who is in the treatment process; certain personality traits, coping methods against current problems and situations, cancer The meaning attributed to the medicine and the perspective towards this process are very important points in terms of psychiatric disorders brought about by the cancer process. The presence of family members and friends, which we can consider as external resources of the patient in this process, and whether the current external resources have a supportive and empathetic approach are risk factors for a depression process that may occur again. Another important risk factor is the patient's communication with the treatment team, with whom he is in frequent contact. Because at this point, it is very important for the treatment team to have a reassuring, supportive and cooperative attitude towards them.
3-) What can people with cancer do to protect their mental health while struggling with the negative health problems caused by cancer? ?
People with cancer may feel dependent on them in their relationships with their relatives due to some physical changes and pains brought about by the disease and the practices within the treatment process. Concomitantly, impairments in daily routine functionality may occur and loss of interest in activities may occur. From time to time, by the treatment team, from time to time by the people around, the depressive symptoms in the patient are accepted as a very natural part of the process. However, the presence of a depression that can also be observed in the clinical sense should not be considered natural as if it were a part of the process. In order to protect his mental health and strengthen his psychological resilience, he should include activities for his old routine in his current life. By being directed to psychosocial activities by his environment; should be supported within the scope of these activities. Reminding the person that he has a social life outside of the treatment process; This social life should be encouraged. In the beginning, people may state that they do not get interest and pleasure in activities. It should not be forgotten that the first aim and target is to act towards activities rather than pleasure and pleasure. Manage the treatment process of people with cancer by receiving psychotherapy support from the beginning of the treatment process. It is very important in terms of the possible ups and downs of the treatment process and in terms of strengthening the psychological resilience of the person. At the point where a medical treatment is deemed necessary in terms of the clinical picture, it should be proceeded in coordination with the specialist simultaneously and the physical health of the patient should not be considered independently of his mental health.
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