How to Overcome Negative Feelings During Cancer
- Broadway star Mauricio Martinez, 45, shares that after multiple bouts with bladder cancer, the experience affected his mental health.
- He underwent many treatments to reach survivorship and found ways to manage his emotional health along the way as well.
- Experiencing feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression is common after a cancer diagnosis. These emotions can also affect loved ones caring for cancer patients.
- Those struggling with mental health after a diagnosis may be able to seek help from a support group of fellow survivors, close friends and family, or ask their doctors for a reference to a mental health professional.
"Going through cancer and its recurrences put me on an emotional rollercoaster…Sometimes, I cried all day," Martinez said in a first-hand account essay to Patient Resource.
Read MoreView this post on InstagramMartinez is an actor of Mexican heritage that has had a long-running career. He is best known for his role in the 1987 film "Predator." Martinez also had roles in "Apocalypto" and "Total Recall." These films alongside a string of Broadway productions helped bring him to prominence.
Unfortunately, off stage, the performer has had to deal with several bouts of bladder cancer since 2010.
He recalled the first time he noticed something unusual when his urine looked like "red wine." A trip to his doctor helped confirm something was wrong. An X-ray and ultrasound found "five tumors" in his bladder. Bladder cancer develops when cells that make up the urinary bladder start to grow and eventually develop into tumors.
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"I was first diagnosed with bladder cancer on April 5, 2010. I didn't really talk about it at first; I guess I was too busy trying to survive," Martinez explained.
After his diagnosis, Martinez eventually turned his attention to treatment. He underwent a transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT) to "burn off the tumors," Martinez described.
During his treatment, Martinez said he underwent, "a partial cystectomy and surgery to remove several lymph nodes in my chest and pelvis area."
His treatment also involved intravesical chemotherapy which goes directly into the bladder. He also received Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a type of immunotherapy designed to use immune cells to target cancer cells, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Lastly, he underwent "27 radiation therapy sessions" which involves using high-energy beams such as X-rays targeted at cancer cells hoping to kill them.
After getting the cancer under control, Martinez's doctor found another small tumor in his bladder in 2013. He underwent intravesical chemotherapy which helped him treat the cancer.
He would again be confronted with cancer three years after that in 2016. However, the Broadway actor said he "felt less alarmed and more prepared to treat it." Intravesical chemotherapy proved successful again until his fourth diagnosis.
More on Bladder Cancer
- Bladder Cancer: Key Terms to Know
- Antibody Drug Conjugates: How is This Type of Cancer Drug Used to Treat Advanced-Stage Bladder Cancer?
- Can Metastatic Bladder Cancer Be Treated With Immunotherapy?
- Can Urinary Tract Infections Cause Bladder Cancer?
- Digital Guide: Treating Metastatic Bladder Cancer
- Digital Guide: Bladder Cancer & Surgery
"This was heartbreaking because just four months prior, my scans were clean. It hit me hard emotionally. I had been fighting bladder cancer for nine years, but I was determined to beat it again," Martinez said.
After undergoing "three to four months of intravesical chemotherapy" Martinez says he's been "cancer-free" ever since.
"I am very grateful to still be here after four battles. Cancer is very stubborn but I am more stubborn," Martinez told Digital Journal during an interview.
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Martinez's cancer journey, rife with ups and downs, held steady thanks to his support group filled with loved ones.
"Being surrounded by friends and family, including my acting family, and a mental health counselor who showed me I needed to express all the emotions that came up helped a great deal. I gave myself permission to feel everything so that I could move through it," Martinez explained.
Mental Health and Cancer
Martinez made himself vulnerable in sharing the mental anguish his multiple bladder cancer battles were having on him. Feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression are common among patients who receive a cancer diagnosis. These emotions also affect loved ones caring for cancer patients.
According to SurvivorNet expert Dr. Shelly Tworoger, "anxiety, depression, financial toxicity, social isolation, and PTSD" are normal responded to facing cancer. Resources like support groups or close friends and family can help.
Having loved ones to lean on during times of fluid emotion can help remind you that you are not alone on this journey. If you find yourself without a robust support group, remember your doctor can refer you to a mental health professional to help you with your emotional health.
Oncology Social Worker Sarah Kelly explains how a cancer diagnosis can affect mental health.
You may be wondering how to know if your mental and emotional health is waning as you cope with your diagnosis.
Look for the following signs that your mental health may need more attention:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numb and/or hopeless feelings
- Turning to drink or drugs more than usual
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
Tips to Boost Your Mental Health Amid Your Cancer Journey
Who better to share what works to help you cope while battling cancer than a fellow cancer warrior? Martinez offers some insights into what has helped him navigate the journey.
The actor says, "Only you can decide the correct path for you" when it comes to finding the right solutions for your cancer journey. Consulting with your doctor and loved ones can help you make the best decisions.
"Know that you're not alone. Research and join groups online. Talk to other survivors, both people in your culture and others to broaden your view," Martinez said.
Martinez also stressed the importance of getting multiple opinions. This is a tactic many SurvivorNet experts also recommend.
"Ask for a second, third, or fourth opinion. One doctor's approach may be completely different from another's. There are so many ways to fight cancer now," Martinez says.
National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery Dr. Steven Rosenberg echoes the Broadway star's sentiments.
"If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care, because finding a doctor who is up to the latest information is important," Dr. Rosenberg said.
Lastly, Martinez emphasized early detection and urged other cancer patients to share their experiences.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a diagnosis or helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I'm still struggling?
- How can seeking these connections help me in my day-to-day life?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
