Focusing on the Positive Amid Cancer
- Experts recommend anyone facing cancer should make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love. It can help fuel a positive attitude.
- Living with gratitude means being thankful for what you have and showing appreciation in your everyday life, and it can be helpful for those struggling with hardships.
- Positive psychology is a different approach to managing your mental health. This approach can be beneficial to people who are dealing with an illness like cancer because it focuses on aspects of your life that conjure up positive emotions unrelated to cancer.
We often hear stories from countless cancer survivors about their desire and ability to focus on the positive while on their journeys. In the vast majority of cases, they believe their positive mindset helps them through treatment, and our SurvivorNet experts back those anecdotal assertions. Karen Ballou, a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, says focusing your mind on the positive things you have in life makes a big difference.
“My advice to others is to stay focused,” Karen says. “Stay focused … think about one thing in your life or two things in your life that you can see when you’re well, that you want to go after. And you want to follow through with it. That’s what got me through the holidays.”
Read MoreOther experts SurvivorNet has spoken to recommend that anyone facing cancer make sure they continue to prioritize their overall well-being and do the things that they love, just like Irwin is doing.
Dr. Dana Chase, a gynecological oncologist at Arizona Center for Cancer Care, says people with cancer should be making time to do things that make them happy.
“We know from good studies that emotional health is associated with survival, meaning better quality of life is associated with better outcomes,” Chase said.
“So working on your emotional health, your physical well-being, your social environment [and] your emotional well-being are important and can impact your survival. If that’s related to what activities you do that bring you joy, then you should try to do more of those activities,” Dr. Chase explained.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re battling cancer or on the other side of it, and you’re struggling with your outlook on life, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor to get the conversation started:
- What can I do if I’m struggling to be thankful for what I have in my life?
- Are there local resources for people wishing to improve their mental health?
- What else can I do to help reduce my stress level during my cancer journey?
- It’s difficult for me to find happiness and joy. How can I find help?
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