Stories of Inspiration
The physical changes most cancer patients experience can also have an impact on their body image and mental health. To better understand these impacts, Texas Oncology surveyed current and former cancer patients to help raise awareness and spark a conversation that brings greater understanding and validation to the physical, mental, and emotional experience of fighting cancer.
Cancer can make patients feel isolated or alone, but having a strong support system can have a positive impact on their mental and emotional health. If a patient or someone they know is struggling with self-acceptance and/or other negative thoughts, feelings, or emotions, Texas Oncology encourages anyone affected by cancer to consult with their physician and care team for help.
The resources below can provide patients, caregivers, and providers with important and helpful information on how to address and manage the toll of cancer on one’s body image and mental health.
The word "cancer" can elicit a whole host of emotions – from fear, sadness, anger, anxiety, and grief. When and how one processes their emotions is important.
The practice of journaling can offer patients seeking a safe, private space to capture and reminisce on any thoughts, feelings, challenges, and milestones they may experience throughout treatment. There is no right or wrong way – the simple act of writing can be transformative for anyone managing the mental and emotional impact of cancer.
Don't know where to begin putting pen to paper? Texas Oncology now offers a bundle of journal prompts created by our social work team to help guide personal in-depth reflections on a variety of mental health and cancer topics. Click the downloadable print PDFs to begin journaling about your or a loved one's experience.
It is completely natural to feel depressed, anxious, angry, or confused when you are being treated for cancer. Emotions run high when you have a serious disease that needs serious treatment. If you feel depressed, you may not be motivated to keep your medical appointments, continue your treatment, or generally take good care of yourself. Your ability to stay the course when it comes to your cancer treatment matters. That’s why it’s important to know:
You can do something about depression and anxiety.
Anxiety can be caused by the need to sort through difficult and sometimes confusing choices about your treatment. A breast cancer patient, for example, may be asked to choose between removing a breast or removing a lump and then having chemotherapy or radiation. Another patient may be offered the option of a clinical trial. You may also be worried about how effective your treatment will be and what side effects it may cause.
Remember, your care team is there to answer your questions and help you decide. Here is what you can do to help yourself get beyond these feelings of depression and anxiety:
Remember, when you experience side effects, it is important to contact Texas Oncology first before going to an emergency room or urgent care clinic.
As you face your cancer diagnosis and treatment, it may be easy to get caught up in the demands of going to treatments, work, and taking care of your home and family. But don’t forget to take good care of yourself. Below are some suggestions for taking care of yourself during this trying time and beyond:
Learn when to call your physician.
As you are going through treatment, make sure you understand how to manage the side effects of your treatment and when you should call your doctor. Keep his or her phone number on the fridge or near the phone so you can always find it. Remember, when you experience side effects, it is important to contact Texas Oncology first before going to an emergency room or urgent care clinic.
Make good use of your patient care guide.
Write down what you learn about your cancer and plan of care. Use it to keep track of your appointments, test results, and treatments. Write down any questions you have and the answers so you can look back on it later.
Eat right and exercise moderately.
Ask your care team for diet suggestions or ask your physician for the names of nutritionists who may be able to help you. Exercise as your physician recommends and as your physical condition allows. Walking is often the best exercise – physically and emotionally.
Talk to someone.
Cancer can create an emotional roller coaster for you and your loved ones, and sharing your feelings, concerns, and fears can lighten your burdens. Counseling may help. You may want to join a support group where you can share your experiences, thoughts, and feelings with others going through the same thing.
Write it down.
Journaling can be private or shared in a support group. You may choose to keep an online journal or blog where you can share with family and friends, or others who may benefit from learning about what you are going through.
Learn meditation or relaxation techniques.
Discover whatever it is that helps you feel at peace.
Celebrate milestones.
Plan a special event to mark the end of treatment cycles or moving into a new phase of treatment.
The treatment of a cancer may include the use of chemotherapy, precision cancer medicines, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or some combination of all of these or other therapeutic options. All of these treatment options are directed at killing or eradicating cancer cells. Unfortunately, cancer treatments may also damage normal, healthy cells that are not affected by the cancer. The result of this damage is a complication, or side effect, of treatment.
Side effects occur because most cancer treatments cannot distinguish between cancer cells and normal, healthy cells. For example, chemotherapy damages rapidly dividing cells, a hallmark trait of cancer cells. In the process, healthy cells that are also rapidly dividing, such as blood cells and the cells lining the mouth and GI tract are also damaged. Radiation therapy kills some healthy cells that are in the path of the radiation or near the cancer being treated. Newer radiation therapy techniques can reduce, but not eliminate this damage.
Side effects of treatment cause inconvenience, discomfort, and occasionally even fatality to patients. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, side effects may also prevent doctors from delivering the prescribed dose of therapy at the specific time and schedule of the treatment plan. This is extremely important to understand since the expected outcome from therapy is based on delivering treatment at the dose and schedule of the treatment plan. In other words, side effects not only cause discomfort and unpleasantness, but may also limit a patient’s ability to achieve the best outcome from treatment by preventing the delivery of therapy at its optimal dose and time.
Fortunately, in the last 15 years there has been a great deal of progress in the development of treatments to help prevent and control the side effects of cancer treatment. These compounds have led to vast improvements in the management of symptoms associated with cancer treatment, allowed for greater accuracy and consistency concerning the administration of cancer treatment, and have made many cancer treatments more widely available to patients throughout the world.
Stress is a part of everyone’s life. While you’re being treated for cancer, it is essential to manage your stress. Try these tips:
It is perfectly natural for people who have been diagnosed with cancer to be concerned about the effect their illness may have on their interest in intimacy. After a diagnosis, you may temporarily lose interest in intimacy as you focus on understanding and treating cancer. Even after treatment, you may have concerns about the effects of the disease and treatment on your desires and performance.
Without a doubt, one of the most common problems regarding cancer and intimacy is reluctance to talk about it with one’s sexual partner and care team. It is completely normal to worry about cancer’s impact on your sexuality. Don’t be afraid to openly and honestly discuss your concerns with your care team – they are accustomed to addressing these issues every day.
There is one more person with whom you should talk openly: your partner. Share your thoughts, feelings, and any fears you may have regarding sexual dysfunction.
Concerns about the impact of cancer and treatment on sexuality are often closely linked to issues of self-image, self-esteem, and body image. Cancer treatment often involves surgery, which can leave scars and cause physical or neurological damage. Radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy can produce side effects such as hair loss and extreme fatigue. These effects and others can strongly influence how a person with cancer feels about his or her body.
There is a lot you can do to support a positive sexual self-image:
To support a positive body image and high self-esteem, follow these suggestions that have helped many people with cancer:
Rely on your family, friends, and care team for support as you work through your concerns about sexuality and self-image. The American Cancer Society also offers helpful publications on this subject. You are never alone in your fight against every aspect of cancer. Turn to the many people who want to help.
