How to Cope With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- OpenAI executive Kate Rouch revealed she’s taking a few months off from her dream job as a marketing professional to focus on breast cancer treatment. She was diagnosed earlier this year.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women begin screening for breast cancer at age 40. Women should talk with their doctor to learn about their cancer risk and assess when is a good time to start annual mammograms.
- A breast cancer diagnosis can spawn a flurry of emotions and impact your mental health. Research published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences found that “35 to 40 percent of cancer patients have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder,” patients battling late-stage cancer tend to face even more significant mental health challenges.
- To help manage your mental health while coping with a diagnosis, some helpful tips include leaning on your support group, journaling, and/or seeking a mental health professional.
- Rouch shared her diagnosis publicly to encourage others to stay current with their health checks. Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches and everything in between are valid.
Rouch remains hopeful not just for her own prognosis but that her story will inspire others to avoid skipping routine check-ups—because one exam could be the difference between early detection and a missed chance.
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“People showed up. They found us a home, a school, and the best doctors. They walked our dog, made dinner, prayed for us, sent care packages, and took on more at work,” she added.
Friends, family, and colleagues rallied around her, offering support in ways big and small—finding her family a home, securing top doctors, walking their dog, preparing meals, and taking on extra responsibilities at work.
RELATED: Google’s Artificial Intelligence to Transform Breast Cancer- Years Away Say Experts
During the early stages of her diagnosis, Rouch turned to a trusted colleague who had openly shared her own breast cancer battle years earlier. That conversation led Rouch to the doctor, now helping guide her through her cancer journey.
“7 years ago, an executive I admire shared openly that she was fighting breast cancer. She was my first call and connected me to the doctor that is saving my life. Stories matter. If not today, in time,” Rouch explained.
Despite the difficulties, Rouch remains optimistic, with doctors giving her an excellent prognosis. Now, she’s using her experience to encourage others to prioritize their health.
“I’m sharing my story (and bald head) to get their attention and encourage them to prioritize their health over the demands of families and jobs. A routine exam saved my life. It could save yours too,” Rouch said.
Helping Patients Cope with a Cancer Diagnosis
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- Anxiety Around Colon Cancer Diagnosis
- Fear, Anger, Anxiety: You’re Entitled To Your Emotions
- ‘How Much Will It Cost?’: A Guide to Coping With the Cost of Cancer Treatment
- High-Cost Parking at Hospitals Is Pain-Point for Cancer Patients Already Dealing With So Much
Help Coping With a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis, your emotions are likely to run high, which is completely normal. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik says emotions are often fluid when coping with a diagnosis.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support, whether that’s a therapist, friends, and family, or both, to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions,” Dr. Plutchik said.
WATCH: How to cope with complex and changing emotions.
If a stressful event affects how you think and feel, it may be time to seek mental health treatment. This could mean traditional talk therapy, medication, changing lifestyle habits (like exercise and diet), seeking a support group, or many other approaches.
SurvivorNet experts suggest women needing a little extra help coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.
- Let your family and close friends know and let them help. So many cancer survivors tell us they want and need support but are often too preoccupied to make specific requests. Urge those close to you to jump in with whatever practical help they can offer.
- Keep a journal. It can be extremely cathartic to let those feelings loose on paper. Grab a pen and a nice journal and chronicle your thoughts throughout the day.
- Join a cancer support group. Groups in nearly every community offer opportunities to connect with others going through a similar journey. You’ll learn constructive insight from others who can tell you what to expect and how to stay strong on tough days.
- Consider seeing a therapist. Ask your doctor to refer you to a therapist so you can discuss your fears and concerns in a safe space. Often, vocalizing your thoughts and feelings rather than internalizing them can provide relief.
Breast Cancer Symptoms & Self-Exams
Women are encouraged to do regular self-exams to become familiar with how their breasts feel normally, so when something unusual like a lump does form, it can be easily detected. A self-exam includes pressing your fingertips along your breast in a circular motion.
For some women, that means going to their doctor and walking through what a self-breast exam looks like, so they know what normal breast tissue feels like so if they do feel something abnormal, whether it’s a lump or discharge from the nipple, they know what to ask and what to look for.
Below are common symptoms to look out for:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Swelling on all or part of the breast
- Skin dimpling or peeling
- Breast or nipple pain
- Nipple turning inward
- Redness or scaliness of breast or nipple skin
- Nipple discharge (not associated with breastfeeding)
Building the Courage to Share
Kate chose to bravely share her diagnosis with the hopes of inspiring others. Some people battling a disease or cancer are open to sharing their experiences as much as they can, while others prefer to keep it to themselves or close loved ones. SurvivorNet experts say both approaches, and everything in between, are valid.
“Patients who have just been diagnosed with cancer sometimes wonder how they are going to handle the diagnosis of the cancer in social situations,” psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains.
Plutchik says patients consider questions like “How much information should they share and with whom should they share the information?”
Dr. Plutchik explains, “There is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”
WATCH: Sharing your diagnosis.
A cancer journey can last months to years, which means cancer warriors may be experiencing a lot of uncertainty until they fully understand where their health stands. This uncertainty can influence when a cancer patient is ready to share their diagnosis, Dr. Plutchik further explained.
Dr. Plutchik stresses that those close to a person going through cancer should be respectful of their wishes when it comes to disclosing their diagnosis and seeking support.
What To Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about keeping your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation with your doctor:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
- Can you recommend a dietician who can help me with healthy eating tips and weight maintenance?
- I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Do you have any treatment recommendations?
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