Cancer is knocking on our door, though no one expects it to happen. The disease comes into play every day, it’s the face of the play you never want to see. It all starts with confirmation of a diagnosis. So hundreds of questions come to mind without giving up. Because I? We try to be true to life, but there are times when pain strikes us very hard.
Cancer affects a person’s mental and physical health even after treatment is complete. The most common symptoms are exhaustion and psychological stress as a result of the impact of diagnosis and the intervention process. Other common problems include depression and anxiety, discouragement, pain, and difficulty with attention. and memory.
“After fighting cancer, everything seems to be a very simple struggle. “David H. Koch?
Nothing is as unique as pain. Nothing is as personal as this experience. As Thiebalt said: “We can avoid suffering, but not pain. “Not all minds can integrate physical or emotional pain. And here’s the paradox: the body remains silent when it doesn’t hurt, but the mind hurts when it’s silent. Cancer is a difficult battle, so it’s critical to respect the right of patients to choose how they want to deal with it. Allow them to show all their emotions, including feelings of defeat and exhaustion.
We often use expressions of support to provide encouragement and comfort, but sometimes, without realizing it, we generate very demanding expectations: “You are a champion”; “You’re strong, don’t worry. “We often show our affection for the best of intentions, but we impose the image of an “optimistic patient“. As if patients and their families had an obligation to face the process of goodwill and strength. Cancer is an extremely difficult experience, it should not become a smooth reality. Make room for pain and fear.
Support and care are very important, but idealizing at extreme levels or struggling to make the patient an example to follow involves putting more weight on their shoulders. It’s a mistake to turn people into “heroes” by taking them out of their human condition. Suffering from the disease is enough. They need our company and support, the recognition of their pain, the acceptance of their emotions and the appreciation for their efforts. Listening to and meeting your needs is the best help we can offer you
It is also very important to make room for your family members, space for your anger, fatigue and suffering, do not let them catch them, making them feel that they should be proud, why do they have a father, a son, a brother or partner?so fighter?. Of course, people facing a cancer process are grateful for our support, but there is no need to highlight human weakness; we have the right to fall and have time to get up.
Being diagnosed with cancer causes a lot of stress. There are six main fears in the cancer patient: fear of death, addiction, disability, life disruption, physical discomfort and malformations, it is essential to seek information to deal with this situation, patients who receive information appropriate and relevant to their needs better control the process of their disease, are more cooperative and active throughout treatment, in this sense , the more uncertainty, the greater the discomfort.
This information should be realistic. The main objective is to resolve the doubts that the person has about the process, however, we should not generate unfounded expectations or idealized hopes, sometimes we do not find the right words, even if our intention is to convey unconditional support. You always have to say something. Listening to the needs of the person, respecting his time and his silences is also a way of showing understanding and affection.
“You may consider yourself a victim or a cancer survivor. Is that a way of thinking?
It is not easy to understand the reactions of our loved ones to the disease and its treatment. It’s hard to understand even our behavior at such complex and painful times. Controlling many “we miss” situations, we don’t know what to do, we get frustrated and we try to figure out what the person thinks or feels, after all, we don’t want them to suffer, we don’t want to suffer.
Treatment of the disease is related to the type of accommodation of the person. These ways of coping with the disease are determined by the patient’s thought patterns and personality. There are usually 5 ways to deal with it:
The disease is seen as a challenge: “I have to keep my life as it is now, I have to decide what I can do. “Diagnosis is seen as a challenge. People think they can take control and have an optimistic perspective for the future. They are always looking for new practical and useful information to help them play an active role in this healing process.
They deny nothing of the disease: “That’s not why everything will stay the same, there’s nothing to fear. “They don’t see the disease as a threat, minimizing its severity. They assume a controllable prognosis and underestimate the impact of the disease. In such cases, some patients may abuse toxic substances to escape.
They adopt an attitude of passive acceptance: “Everything is in the hands of doctors, God has decided my destiny. “Therefore, they assume a resignation position. They do not perceive the disease as a serious threat and put control of everything abroad (doctors, family, God, etc. ) They are patients who do not use active coping strategies and often have adaptation problems.
The patient is upset, overwhelmed: “I can’t do anything, wait and die. “Diagnosis is considered a serious threat, such as a greater loss. Therefore, they consider that there is no control over the situation, even external or other control. As a result, the person abandons himself (lack of care, food, hygiene, medication, etc. ), with mood disorders very common.
Reacts with restlessness and anxiety: “I have to be aware of any symptoms, I have to explore very often to understand what can happen. ” The patient perceives a great threat with constant doubts about his ability to control. Similarly, uncertainty about the prognosis is very high, so there is a constant need to reevaluate the information and may be accompanied by anxiety and somatization disorders.
“Cancer is a word, not a death sentence. “John Diamond?
The concept of quality of life has three basic criteria. First, it is completely subjective, each person is unique and evaluates their quality of life according to their individual experiences, aspirations and differences. It is also multidimensional, so the impact of the disease and its treatments must be taken into account. Finally, it is temporary; the quality of life depends on the present moment, it will change as the situation changes and the time of the person’s life.
Quality of life has always been intimately linked to the disease: patients want to live, not survive. This means considering the functionality of the person, that is, their level of activity and their autonomy in the day to day. Similarly, it is essential to consider how the disease physically affects the person and their psychological condition (anxiety, depression, sexuality). , self-esteem, etc. ).
Nor can we forget the social dimension, it is very important to be satisfied with social relations and have a support network, equally important are spiritual mastery (beliefs, values, sense of life) and material implications, that is, the economic resources to deal with certain aspects, such as the cost of medicines.
In conclusion, it is essential to consider the needs of the person, respect and help to make decisions based on their assessments will allow the patient to manage and overcome adversity, the goal is not simply to add years to the life of the person It is necessary to add life to the years.