How does psychological stress affect cancer patients?
The physical, emotional and social effects of a cancer diagnosis are very stressful. In such cases, behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking may be observed in some patients, while in others, situations such as withdrawal may occur, and this may lead to deterioration in the quality of life after cancer treatment. On the contrary, we see that patients who can develop effective methods against stress and apply methods such as relaxation and stress management are less anxious and less depressed in their cancer-related complaints. Some experimental studies have shown that mice carrying human tumors metastasized more as their tumors continued to live in a stressful environment. There are also laboratory studies showing that this is due to norepinephrine, which increases vascularity and is secreted during stress. In a study conducted among women with breast cancer who received chemotherapy before surgery, it was found that the disease recurrence rates were lower in those who used drugs that turn off the receptors affected by norepinephrine, which we call beta blockers. In addition, although the exact mechanism is not understood, mortality rates are higher in patients suffering from stress-related burnout. It seems possible that this may be related to situations such as not wanting treatment, giving up on life, and that this may lead to situations such as malnutrition and drug use.
So what should cancer patients do to cope with stress?
Receiving spiritual and social support can teach patients ways to cope with stress, reduce the level of anxiety and depression, and the demoralization caused by side effects of cancer treatment. Be sure to share with your doctor the situations that upset you or bother you. This will relieve you greatly.
My suggestions:
- If possible, do not change your daily life too much. If there is nothing preventing you from working, do not quit your job, or if you are not working, try to acquire hobbies that will connect you to life,
- Remember that there are people who love you and they are always with you,
p>
- Receiving training on relaxation, meditation and stress coping techniques. This may take the form of participating in practices at the Oncology Institute or obtaining information on the relevant subject from books and the internet,
- Attend speech therapies,
- Go to cancer education seminars (such as attending Patient School Practices),
- Join social support groups,
- Use anti-depression medication (as recommended by your psychiatrist or doctor),
- Exercise.
Read: 0
