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According to the National Cancer Institute&Registry,more than 230,000 women in the USA & 712,758 women in India learn that they have breast cancer each year.Because many of them have no family history of breast cancer or other known risk factors,the diagnosis often comes as a devastating surprise.The emotional turmoil that results can affect women’s physical health as well as their psychological wellbeing.
▪️What impact does a breast cancer diagnosis have on psychological wellbeing?
>>Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can be one of the most distressing events women ever experience.And women may not know where to turn for help.Distress typically continues even after the initial shock of diagnosis has passed.As women begin what is often a lengthy treatment process, they may find themselves faced with new problems.They may find their personal relationships in turmoil, for instance.They may feel tired all the time.They may be very worried about their symptoms,treatment,and mortality.They may face discrimination from employers or insurance companies.
▪️Why is it important to seek psychological help?
>>Feeling overwhelmed is a perfectly normal response to a breast cancer diagnosis.But negative emotions can cause women to stop doing things that are good for them and start doing things that are bad for anyone but especially worrisome for those with a serious disease.
▪️How can psychological treatment help women adjust?
>>Licensed psychologists and other mental health professionals with experience in breast cancer treatment can help a great deal.Their primary goal’s to help women learn how to cope with the physical,emotional,and lifestyle changes associated with cancer as well as with medical treatments that can be painful and traumatic.
▪️What type of psychological treatment is helpful?
>>A combination of individual and group treatment sometimes works best.Individual sessions with a licensed psychologist typically emphasize the understanding and modification of patterns of thinking and behavior.
▪️Can psychological treatment help the body,too?
>>Absolutely.Take the nausea and vomiting that often accompany chemotherapy, for example. For some women,these side effects can be severe enough to make them reject further treatment efforts.Psychologists can teach women relaxation exercises,meditation,self-hypnosis,imagery,or other skills that can effectively relieve nausea without the side effects of pharmaceutical approaches.
Source: https://www.apa.org/topics/behavioral-health/breast-cancer
https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.20.00122