How Cancer Impacts Mental Health
Some patients may lose the ability to be independent. Others find that energy levels plummet and activities that were once a source of enjoyment are no longer possible. Care must be given to allow the cancer patient to experience their disease in whatever manner is best for them.
Patients frequently experience a process similar to grieving after diagnosis and during palliative or end-of-life care2. There is evidence3 to support the existence of PTSD within both cancer survivors and cancer patients. This is a direct result of traumatic experiences associated with the disease, and because the potential for a fatal prognosis is high.
A study looked into the prevalence of mental health conditions diagnosed in cancer patients of working age; the study identified that nearly 30 percent of the patients in the study were diagnosed with a condition prior to the end of the study. As the national statistics for diagnosed mental health conditions is approximately 26 percent, this points to a noteworthy increase in patients.
Cancer treatments can also cause depression and anxiety. A side effect of chemotherapy known as chemo brain can cause fatigue, depression, mental fog, and other forms of cognitive impairment. An article by the American Cancer Society shows the link between depression and chemo brain, and identifies that both should be considered. Radiation can also lead to fatigue, nausea, and depression.
You will notice on this ride you will meet many people at hospital, in doctors surgeries, in specialist rooms and even through friends.
You will also notice that we all cope differently and that's ok, people cope differently with many things in life, that's the beauty it's kind of like licorice allsorts.
Wouldn't life be so boring if we all coped the same and were the same. Yep 👍
#lookafteryou #cancer #survivor #iamstillawoman #mentalhealth
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