Addressing Mental Health in Those Diagnosed with Cancer
Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis for patients. Many of the current treatments have adverse side effects which can be taxing on patients who are already suffering from the physical symptoms of cancer. Even post-treatment can be a rocky road for patients suffering from cancer due to fears of remission. Although many physicians have often emphasized the importance of treating the physical component of cancer, a growing body of research has emphasized the importance of a mind-body connection in terms of treating various diseases. The mind is another powerful tool that, in conjunction with treatment, could be utilized in maximizing participants’ ability to cope in the face of a disease.
In the context of cancer research, cancer patients have been found to be 2-3 times more susceptible to developing depression and anxiety compared to the general population. Although factors such as socioeconomic status and quality of social support have been found to impact how patients fare in the light of a cancer diagnosis, research has found a link between mindsets and psychological outcomes in those with cancer. A study has found that two patients with the same stage and type of cancer may have vastly different psychological outcomes due to different mindsets patients had about the disease.
In the context of cancer research, cancer patients have been found to be 2-3 times more susceptible to developing depression and anxiety compared to the general population. Although factors such as socioeconomic status and quality of social support have been found to impact how patients fare in the light of a cancer diagnosis, research has found a link between mindsets and psychological outcomes in those with cancer. A study has found that two patients with the same stage and type of cancer may have vastly different psychological outcomes due to different mindsets patients had about the disease.
Patients may recover from the physical symptoms during treatment, however patients diagnosed with cancer have a higher rate of developing mental health disorders.
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Under the umbrella of mindsets regarding cancer, two categories of mindsets were explored in depth within a study: initial reactions to the diagnosis as well as attitudes during disease progression.
The first category addressed patients mindsets in the face of the cancer diagnosis with participants either viewing the onset of the disease as an “opportunity” for a lifestyle change. In other words, a wake-up call to make healthier life changes, or viewing the onset as “disaster” which can lead patients to undergo negative thought-patterns seen in psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety. It suggests that the cancer diagnosis may spur patients to realize the importance of diet and physical activity which, in conjunction with proper cancer treatment, can lead to better psychological outcomes.
The second category addressed the patients’ mindsets regarding their body’s ability to fare with the disease with patients either viewing their body as working against them or their bodies as capable of fighting the disease. Patients who held the view that their bodies were capable of fighting the disease were more likely to fare better during the post-treatment period as they typically held more positive mindsets regarding the potential for remission as opposed to patients who held a more “adversarial” view regarding their bodies ability to fight the disease. Ultimately, patients who viewed their body’s ability to fight cancer in a more positive light tended to avoid developing negative thought-patterns seen in those whom had held a more pessimistic stance.
Until now, doctors have emphasized the importance of treating the physical side of disease; it’s time to address the mental health component and give these patients the support they need to overcome it. This is particularly important as a study has found a greater number of hospitalizations for cancer-related complications in patients whom had developed a mental health disorder during the time frame in which they developed cancer. In light of such findings, researchers argue that greater emphasis should be placed on treating the psychological outcomes of the disease despite the current emphasis on targeting malignant tumors and treating the physical components of cancer.
Some possible mindset interventions included creating and distributing online modules, social modeling by creating networks in which survivors can talk to current cancer patients, as well as taking measures to utilize the patient-provider relationship to educate physicians on how to recognize and address unhealthy mindsets within patients. Ultimately, this finding posits that mindsets may have an influential role not only in how patients may cope with the potential psychological ramifications of going through cancer but can influence the patients’ overall outcome and quality of life.
The first category addressed patients mindsets in the face of the cancer diagnosis with participants either viewing the onset of the disease as an “opportunity” for a lifestyle change. In other words, a wake-up call to make healthier life changes, or viewing the onset as “disaster” which can lead patients to undergo negative thought-patterns seen in psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety. It suggests that the cancer diagnosis may spur patients to realize the importance of diet and physical activity which, in conjunction with proper cancer treatment, can lead to better psychological outcomes.
The second category addressed the patients’ mindsets regarding their body’s ability to fare with the disease with patients either viewing their body as working against them or their bodies as capable of fighting the disease. Patients who held the view that their bodies were capable of fighting the disease were more likely to fare better during the post-treatment period as they typically held more positive mindsets regarding the potential for remission as opposed to patients who held a more “adversarial” view regarding their bodies ability to fight the disease. Ultimately, patients who viewed their body’s ability to fight cancer in a more positive light tended to avoid developing negative thought-patterns seen in those whom had held a more pessimistic stance.
Until now, doctors have emphasized the importance of treating the physical side of disease; it’s time to address the mental health component and give these patients the support they need to overcome it. This is particularly important as a study has found a greater number of hospitalizations for cancer-related complications in patients whom had developed a mental health disorder during the time frame in which they developed cancer. In light of such findings, researchers argue that greater emphasis should be placed on treating the psychological outcomes of the disease despite the current emphasis on targeting malignant tumors and treating the physical components of cancer.
Some possible mindset interventions included creating and distributing online modules, social modeling by creating networks in which survivors can talk to current cancer patients, as well as taking measures to utilize the patient-provider relationship to educate physicians on how to recognize and address unhealthy mindsets within patients. Ultimately, this finding posits that mindsets may have an influential role not only in how patients may cope with the potential psychological ramifications of going through cancer but can influence the patients’ overall outcome and quality of life.
Featured Image Source: Wokandapix
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