Although survival rates are increasing for many types of cancer, it remains one of the leading causes of death in the world, according to a Mayo Clinic publication. Because of this, hearing the news that you have cancer can be devastating.
Every February 4th the World Cancer Day, date that has the objective of raising awareness and mobilizing society to advance in the prevention and control of this disease.
Cancer refers to any one of a large number of diseases that are characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide without control and they have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer often has the ability to spread throughout the body, also mentioned in the aforementioned Mayo Clinic article.
the website ease your pain points out that patients with oncological disease may experience pain at any stage of their disease: at the beginning, during treatment, post treatment, in the palliative phase or even with the disease cured.
World Cancer Day, the disease that is among the leading causes of death in the world
Ace adds that 80% of cancer patients will have pain at some point in their evolution and 50 to 60% of them will have it in a moderate to severe intensity. One third of patients will present with more than four types of pain.
In short, facing everything that a cancer diagnosis implies can be very complex. Tania Estapé, professor of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the Open University of Catalonia, tells the website Infosalus that not anticipate the facts, accept negative emotions and share it with the closest environment These are some of the tips to follow in these cases.
Below are some of the Specialist recommendations:
Not anticipating the facts
Among the main reactions that people can experience while waiting for the results of a test are anxiety, nerves, sweats, tremors, palpitations and digestive problems.
“The patient is faced with a real reason to fear, and it is inevitable that he anticipates what would happen if the results are confirmed to be compatible with a cancerous disease,” says Estapé. In this situation it is important try to relax and try not to anticipate future scenarios, he recommends.
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accept negative emotions
After hearing the news there may be emotions such as fear, anxiety and anger, as well as disbelief.
“There is a feeling that life is getting out of control, because all of a sudden you start having a different vital circuit of what had been lived until then, ”says the expert.
Caution should be exercised with these types of emotions because can lead the person to make wrong decisions or actions, motivated by negative feelings.
Share it with the closest environment
There are cases where it is difficult to share this news, even with close relatives. Estapé indicates that this depends on the patient’s age, personal and family life cycle, type of cancer, prognosis, and social and family relationships.
“Each patient is a world and everyone should do what makes them feel better, since there are more extroverted personalities and others more introverted”, add. However, it has been shown that those who have good family and social support adapt much better to the disease.
Not forcing yourself to be positive and upbeat
“There are a false belief that makes it almost mandatory for people who contract the disease to feel happy and excited to ensure healing says the expert.
Although following the medical instructions and undergoing the indicated treatments implies a positive and proactive attitude, that does not mean that with this attitude the disease is cured, nor that the patient must exert himself and exhibit himself at all times, even if he does not feel that way.
The role of relatives
According to the specialist, cancer is a family affair. She adds that the data shows that “relatives of patients have the same psychological repercussions as the patient”, so it is normal to resort to the help of a professional.
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“The most important thing is that the family supports the patient and does not run away from him in situations in which he expresses fear, sadness or anger”, indicates Estapé.
fight insomnia
Before going to sleep, negative thoughts may arise that do not allow the person to fall asleep, in this case the specialist He suggests leaving the room.
“What goes very well is to look for an activity that is not very elaborate but requires attention, like ordering photographs and classifying them or sewing, until I fall asleep again”, she mentions as an example.
Laboral life
Despite his health situation, the expert assures that it is important that the person leads a more or less normal life, because that’s the best you’ll feel. So if you enjoy your work, it is best that you try to continue doing it.
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“It all depends on what working life means to the person: there are those who enjoy work because they find themselves in a satisfactory space, and there are also those who experience it as a negative or difficult activity”, he points out. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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