Going through treatment does not mean dying, however, looking at your illness from this point of view requires a certain distance – from yourself, from the terrifying current reality. Detachment is one of the things that will allow us to fight.
“Reactions when the diagnosis is announced are very different. Often people do not believe the results at the time of the diagnosis, they are in shock. It is ideal if a close person is also present, if the patient agrees. He can be a support. The form of communication by the doctor is important, there is definitely a lot of room for improvement here,” he told Flowee prof. MD Jan Daneš, CSc., Czech doctor and university professor, expert in the field of radiology and mammography.
The psyche plays an essential role
The news of cancer will not only affect the person who has been diagnosed, but will affect their circle of family members and friends as well. The American Cancer Society emphasizes the importance of engaging your support system, expressing your needs, and accepting help when it’s offered. It is important to understand that when emotions become overwhelming, seeking professional help is a strength, not a weakness.
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“Almost all of us will personally encounter cancer, it is basically a part of life. Thanks to early diagnosis and advances in treatment, the death rate from cancer is decreasing. Optimism tends to be appropriate, most cases are successfully treated and cured. It’s a good idea not to stress yourself out by searching the web, but rather to talk calmly with your doctor. There are also patient organizations, for breast cancer, for example, the Alliance of Women with Breast Cancer or for young women in the Bellisky project. There you can look for support and find out important information about life with breast cancer,” adds Professor Daneš.
The complex and emotional journey of coping with a cancer diagnosis is like painting a picture in the heaviest downpour. Uncertainty is omnipresent. The diagnosis touches the essence of our vulnerability, strength and undeniable desire to survive. A will to survive that is terribly strong.
After all, we recently followed the fates of people with this diagnosis in a great Czech television series with the perfect name Smysl pro tumor. Seeing the fate of a young boy who comes face to face with cancer without being prepared for it in any way sent chills down our spines. It was all the more incomprehensible to him, but frighteningly real, because he himself was a medical student…
Another “new reality”
Expressing emotions plays a vital role in coping with cancer. It’s essential to communicate your feelings, whether through talking to family and friends, journaling, or seeking a counselor. Expressing emotions is not just a catharsis, it is an integral part of the healing process. But emotions must be kept in balance. A person should have a mixed emotional reaction to their diagnosis. A reaction that reflects the dual reality of both hope and risk. This emotional balance helps to cope with uncertainty and move towards recovery without denying the legitimate fears that come with the illness.
Prof. MD Jan Daneš, CSc.
Even according to experts, recognizing and expressing emotions is an essential step in managing them. It turns out that facing the reality of the disease can be learned and most people adapt to this reality.
Patients are advised to focus on what gives meaning to their lives, to maintain open communication with loved ones and to try to maintain the lifestyle they valued and enjoyed even before the diagnosis, with the necessary adjustments adapted to the new circumstances.
“Psyche is fundamentally important. It is important to have a positive attitude towards life, to try to manage the disease. I fundamentally recommend trusting doctors and not running, for example, to alternative treatments and different healers. In large workplaces, a psychologist is usually available, who can provide treatment in complicated cases. And the experiences of patients who have been cured are also valuable,” adds Professor Daneš.
Some accept the “community”, others reject it
Connecting with a community of those who have walked a similar path can offer comfort and practical advice. But each person acts and thinks differently: while someone is helped by sharing, another wants to “live as normally as possible” and not associate in groups with other patients. Both approaches are perfectly fine.
There are so many women everywhere talking about cancer that I’m kind of overwhelmed. I call them oncocelebrities. So many events, so many books, so many symposia, so many stories, so many findings…
“Groups for cancer women have helped me tremendously,” Barbara Lišková, who is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time after having both breasts removed, tells Flowee. “I was mainly helped by the details. I found that carbonated water, which I hadn’t been drinking until then, helped me get rid of the terrible aftertaste. For example, during “Aperol” (that’s what one of the types of chemotherapy is called – so-called red, because the substance is red) there are a lot of unpleasant difficulties and even small tips change the game. For me, for example, it was the sparkling water. I never liked it, I loved still. Now I can’t drink anything other than sparkling wine. There is no need to write anything in the groups, it helped me to read from someone else’s posts. Seeking answers to my questions.’
Still insufficient prevention
Although it may seem that cancer is being talked about all the time and everywhere, this does not mean that prevention is sufficient in our country, or that people take the available information to heart. “The problem is a group of patients who do not go for prevention at all for various reasons. Sometimes they are influenced by misinformation on social networks and websites, they do not believe in the examination method, they are afraid of the diagnosis, they often feel that cancer does not concern them. “Sometimes they decide to go for an examination only when they encounter cancer among colleagues or in the family,” warns Professor Daneš.
“I, on the other hand, have a problem that there are so many women talking about cancer everywhere that I’m somehow overwhelmed by it. I call them oncocelebrities. So many events, so many books, so many symposia, so many stories, so many finds…,” says Barbora Lišková.
The numbers speak for themselves
The fact is that cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, including in the European Union, where it accounts for about 20 percent of all deaths. In 2020, there were 135,500 deaths from colorectal cancer in the EU, accounting for 11.6% of all cancer deaths and 2.6% of total deaths. The proportion of deaths attributed to colorectal cancer was 2.9% for men and 2.3% for women, a much smaller gender difference than for lung cancer.
Other numbers are associated with a pragmatic aspect that cannot be ignored. And that is the financial impact of the cancer treatment process. The numbers are very vague, but everyone should calculate “their own”. Treatment is often associated with unforeseen expenses. It is therefore good and important to familiarize yourself with everything you will be going through. Plan a course of action and identify available resources and support systems. Questions related to insurance, time off and entitlement to disability benefits need to be addressed early and are very important!
And finally, we will offer numbers that are both alarming and optimistic at the same time. It is estimated that almost 40% of cancers are preventable. For example, the risk of colorectal cancer can be greatly reduced by adopting healthy habits such as a healthy diet and regular exercise.
The journey through a cancer diagnosis is undeniably challenging, but it is also paved with the potential for growth, understanding, and renewed joy in life, which for many people is a frighteningly commonplace…
photo: Profimedia, Shutterstock, source: Author’s article
