Rehabilitation in Cancer Patients

It is a fact that the number of people struggling with cancer in the world is increasing day by day. As a result of this situation, new approaches are emerging in the treatment of cancer. Today, with the advances in cancer treatment, the life expectancy of patients has increased. Thus, the issues of coping with the disease, reducing the side effects of drugs, minimizing the complaints of patients, especially fatigue and pain, and increasing the quality of life began to come to the fore. Oncological rehabilitation studies are carried out in order to improve health in the field of cancer. Oncological rehabilitation includes patient-centered multi-disciplinary teamwork including counseling for patients and their relatives, reducing the patient's complaints, nutritional habits, physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs, respiratory rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation and psychological rehabilitation

Knowledge of Cancer Patient Psychology Requirements

Cancer occurs as a result of the uncontrolled growth of the cells that make up the human body. People who encounter cancer for the first time may show different reactions depending on their characters. However, the fight against cancer is a challenging process for many people, albeit from different angles. In the first stage, many patients may have difficulties in accepting the disease. In other words, they may refuse the disease and treatment. This process is followed by a sense of rebellion, and the person may question why this disease happened to him. Depression symptoms such as not being able to enjoy life can be observed in patients. Against such situations, psychological support should be offered to cancer patients as soon as the first diagnosis is made. Cancer is a disease that can affect not only the body but also the whole life of the individual. Even if cancer treatment ends, the fear of cancer recurrence may disrupt the comfort of life of the person. Even if the person is mentally healthy, he may need psychological support during a long treatment process. In this process, receiving psychological support supports the patient's fight against cancer. For this reason, psycho-oncology is an integral part of cancer treatment. They must behave well. Cancer and psychology are in a cause-effect relationship. Although the cause of cancer formation is not known exactly, according to some studies, being under intense stress can trigger cancer formation. At the same time, intense stress accompanied by the fear of death during treatment may reduce the chances of success of the treatment. Cancer treatment is a process that requires the patient, specialist doctors and the patient's relatives to act together. Cancer patients may experience sudden physiological and psychological changes during the treatment process. For this reason, it is important to inform the relatives of patients about how to approach cancer patients.

Psychological Support Program for Cancer Patients

People are social beings. Therefore, getting psychological support is important not only for cancer patients but also for other individuals. In cancer patients, getting psychological support is much more important in terms of compliance with treatment. The first encounter with cancer and the treatment process after it may bring some difficulties and changes in the patient's daily life, business life, social life, and his life with his family at home. This process can be a challenging process for the patient as well as their relatives. For this reason, experts dealing with the psychology of cancer patients start by informing the patient and their relatives about the disease. Otherwise, it may be difficult for patients to accept treatment. The side effects of some cancer treatments can sometimes make the patient feel powerless and helpless. In support programs, patients are also informed that the side effects of cancer treatments are not permanent. In addition, some of these side effects can cause changes in the appearance of cancer patients. Changes such as hair loss and weight change can negatively affect the psychology of the patient. He may be worried that his hair will not grow back and that he will not look the same as before. Cancer patients are told that these effects are temporary by experts in the psychological support program.

The Importance of Rehabilitation Support in Cancer Patients

All the procedures performed by a patient with cancer, at the beginning of the disease, during chemotherapy or radiotherapy, in the complications that may occur after cancer, or after the patient has completely recovered, are called cancer rehabilitation. In other words, cancer and oncological rehabilitation aims to provide physical, social and psychological support to cancer patients during the disease process. The rehabilitation process in cancer patients is determined by considering the health status of the patients.

Cancer rehabilitation can be done at any stage of the disease. The phases of rehabilitation can be listed as follows:

• Protection phase: This is the phase where the patient first meets the disease and experiences situations such as anxiety, fear and anxiety intensely. Therefore, in the protection phase, the patient is first approached appropriately. Detailed information is given to the patient and their relatives about the disease and the treatment process.
• Restorative phase: This is the phase that aims to facilitate the daily lives of patients receiving treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and to minimize the side effects of the treatments. The patient is informed about the preservation of physical activity. In this process, the support of the family is also very important for the cancer patient. Therefore, psychological support is provided to the relatives of the patients in the restorative stage.
• Supporting stage: In some cancer patients, cancerous tissues may spread to other organs. This process may cause the patient to become more hopeless and anxious. As a result, the patient may withdraw from social life. In the supportive phase, it is aimed to increase the physical activities of the cancer patient and to protect the living standards as much as possible. Maintaining the patient's standard of living in the palliative phase is the main goal.

With the increase in the success rate in cancer treatments, oncological rehabilitation becomes even more important. The oncological rehabilitation program is managed by a team of experts in the field such as patient relatives, nurses, nutritionists and physiotherapists. With rehabilitation, it is primarily aimed to protect the living standards of the patient receiving cancer treatment. Muscle strengthening or aerobic exercises may be recommended to the patient. eg It also contributes positively to the mental state of the patient.

The Effect of Support Groups in Fighting Cancer

The family and relatives of the cancer patient try to support the patient as much as possible during the disease process. However, cancer is a disease that requires a long treatment process. This process may cause the patient's relatives to get tired and not be able to provide adequate support for the patient. The psychology of cancer patients may not always be the same. Sometimes, feelings such as fear of death, the feeling of not being able to realize their plans, and anxiety can be experienced more intensely. Thanks to the increasing number of support groups today, cancer patients can express themselves comfortably and get rid of the feeling of loneliness. Support groups can be formed by psychologists who are experts in the field. These groups are groups that both cancer patients and their relatives can participate in.

Patients and their relatives can share their feelings and concerns more easily because they know that other people in the group are going through similar processes

It becomes easier to adapt to bodily changes such as hair loss, weight change or loss of a limb during the treatment process

The desire to exist in social life increases

People can also talk about death when necessary

When cancer is completely healed, some patients may develop fear of experiencing the same things again. These groups also help people cope with anxiety.

Cancer is one of the diseases that can be treated today. Thanks to the developments in the field of medicine, it is seen that the survival rate of cancer patients is increasing gradually. In the treatment of the disease, early diagnosis, drug therapy or surgical treatment, as well as oncological rehabilitation support are very important. You can also consult the nearest health institution to get detailed information about the importance of rehabilitation in cancer patients.

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