Mental Health for Cancer Warriors & Survivors
At SurvivorNet, we believe treating the whole person body and mind is imperative for success. So we’ve gathered best-in-class tips for help managing the emotions and challenges that may come with being a cancer patient or survivor.
Forgive Yourself for Being Human: The Psychological Toll of Cancer
Can you learn to forgive yourself? This video might be one of the most important things we've published on SurvivorNet. One of the most important we may ever publish. Memorial Sloan Kettering's Dr. William S. Breitbart is an amazing voice on the psychological aspects of cancer. As Dr. Breitbart says, learning to forgiv... Read More
- Relationship Tip 1: There is nothing wrong with showing emotions to children. Remain calm and give them a sense of safety.
- Relationship Tip 2: Caregivers are focused on caring. They may not realize their attempts to help can feel like pressure to patients.
- Relationship Tip 3: Strong relationships can become even stronger under pressure.
Strong In Cancer: Navigating Relationships With Dr. Marianna Strongin
- Relationship Tip 1: Â There is nothing wrong with showing emotions to children. Remain calm and give them a sense of safety.
- Relationship Tip 2: Caregivers are focused on caring. They may not realize their attempts to help can feel like pressure to patients.
- Relationship Tip 3: Strong relationships can become even stronger under pressure.
'Scan-xiety' Is Common Among Survivors
"Scan-xiety," or anxiety that people living with cancer (or survivors) sometimes feel when thinking about their next scans, is a major stressor for so many people. Even in remission, many people spend countless hours worrying that their disease will return. And while it's important to be realistic about these possibili... Read More
- Tip 1: Acknowledge the changes in your body and work to accept them with compassion.
- Tip 2: Create positive rituals that allow you to better accept your cancer journey.
- Tip 3 : Be patient with yourself.
Self Esteem and Body Acceptance
- Tip 1: Acknowledge the changes in your body and work to accept them with compassion.
- Tip 2: Â Create positive rituals that allow you to better accept your cancer journey.
- Tip 3 : Be patient with yourself.
- Creating a safe environment for those who are struggling can remove the stigma around mental health.
- When the world around you is stressful, focus on controlling your reaction to it.
- People going through cancer need the comfort of knowing friends and loved ones are there.
Navigating Treatment and Mental Health
- Â Creating a safe environment for those who are struggling can remove the stigma around mental health.
- Â When the world around you is stressful, focus on controlling your reaction to it.
- People going through cancer need the comfort of knowing friends and loved ones are there.
How to Respond to Vulnerability: Creating a Sense of Empathy
The shame that people tend to feel after getting cancer comes from a sense of vulnerability, according to Dr. William Breitbart, the chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. People feel ashamed that their bodies were susceptible to disease, that they have... Read More
- Tip 1: Create an internal dialogue that connects your body and mind to feel more in control.
- Tip 2: Name three things you see, list three things you hear and move three parts of your body.
- Tip 3: Use your reasonable mind when making hard decisions. Save the emotions for later.
Strong In Cancer: Overcoming Treatment Anxiety
- Tip 1: Create an internal dialogue that connects your body and mind to feel more in control.
- Tip 2: Name three things you see, list three things you hear and move three parts of your body.
- Tip 3: Use your reasonable mind when making hard decisions. Save the emotions for later.
Finding Help for Stress and Anxiety
It's very common to experience some level of anxiety or stress when dealing with a cancer diagnosis, so it's important you understand that those are normal feelings that you don't need to hide. In fact, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder that often occurs after experiencing a very distressful or... Read More
- Sometimes our hard-working doctors need help prioritizing themselves – just like their patients.
- Here are ways they can cope with the emotions and stress of treating people with cancer.
Doctors Need Help, Too
- Sometimes our hard-working doctors need help prioritizing themselves – just like their patients.
- Here are ways they can cope with the emotions and stress of treating people with cancer.