Coping with Cancer | Active Treatment

This one's for the  patients who have been diagnosed with an early stage of Cancer, or a type of Cancer that gives them very good odds of survival. These patients are under Active Treatment with the goal of complete Cure.

What are the kinds of stresses that these patients deal with?

• The kind of stress these patients deal with is different from terminally ill patients or the ones in Palliation.
• There is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. This is exaggerated by the initial symptoms like nausea, vomiting, pain, etc, and because of the anticipated symptoms like hair-loss, changing body image, etc.
• The initial visits to the clinic or the hospital and having to look at the other patients who look not so healthy, makes them think that this where they're headed . Whereas, their outcome could be entirely different.
• The early phase of dealing with the diagnosis and the beginning of treatments is quite overwhelming, and depressing. Like the first shot of Radiation, or Chemotherapy, or being under the knife for the first time can be understandably difficult. Accepting the fact that this has all begun, is necessary, to be able to deal with it.

Cancer  Patient

How can you help a patient in Active treatment?

• The goal is to get the patient to cope with the current treatment, and help them to deal with short-term loss/pain for a long-term gain.
• Looking beyond the Physical Symptoms is the key.
• Understanding the level of anxiety and helping the patient deal with it does wonders.
• Hospitalized patients are more likely to have  psychological or psychiatric issues, because of the level of illness and also the fact that they are ''hospitalized''. So, these patients obviously need more psychological intervention.

''The key is to let the Patients know that their condition is curable. And this very factor will dramatically help them to endure the temporary distresses caused by Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation. And this very fact will help them deal with even permanent losses or organ preservation procedures if necessary''

Also read
How to deal with cancer?
What is psychological-distress?
What is Psycho-Oncology?
5 reasons why you should study oncology.
Cancer in 21st century.
Brachytherapy for prostate cancer.
Cancer and surgery.
What is Cancer-related Fatigue?