In coping with the disease, breast cancer patients can seek help so that they can work through problems, symptoms and emotions.
If difficulties are encountered, steps should be taken whenever possible, even small steps can help patients find relief and bring peace of mind.
Reducing stress
Many issues can cause stress. Patients may feel uncertain about the future, their illness, or their financial situation, and family members may feel these feelings as well. Alarm signs of stress include difficulty sleeping, fatigue, physical discomfort, pain, anxiety, irritability, tension, and headaches.
If the stress can be coped with, the patient is mentally and psychologically relieved, trying to maintain a positive attitude and accepting the fact that it is out of their control.
Should be assertive without being aggressive, stating their thoughts, opinions or beliefs firmly rather than being angry, belligerent or negative.
Being physically healthy is more helpful in resisting stress, so give your body some time and provide some conditions for recovery.
Stay active, eat a balanced diet, get good rest and sleep, and don’t reduce stress through alcohol or drugs.
Consider getting involved in a support group or finding a way to express your feelings.
Ways to relax
There are many things patients can do to relax. Deep breathing, relaxing muscles and mood, listening to music and biofeedback can all help.
Before trying to exercise, find a quiet spot that doesn’t cause distractions, sit or lie comfortably in a chair or couch, and try to forget about worries and distracting thoughts.
The two-minute relaxation method
Focus on yourself and your breathing, breathe in deeply a few times, exhale slowly, sort through your mind, notice points that make you feel tense or narrow, and quickly eliminate those points to release as much stress as possible.
Turn your head slowly in a circular motion once or twice (if you have pain, stop the motion) and turn your shoulders back and forth a few times to allow all the muscles to relax.
Take a few seconds to remember something happy, breathe in deeply again, and exhale slowly, which will feel relaxing at this point.
Mental relaxation
Close your eyes, breathe normally through your nostrils, and as you exhale, gently say “one” or a short word to yourself, or a phrase like “I feel calm.
For 10 minutes, if you wander, remind yourself to focus on the breath and the word or phrase of choice, and breathe slowly and steadily.
Breathe deeply and relax. Imagine a point below your belly button, inhale into that point, filling your belly with air, then exhale the air, similar to a balloon deflating, and after each long, gentle breath, your whole body will be more relaxed.
Where to turn for help?
Many professionals and teams are available to provide support to patients and families.
Social workers
can help patients discuss concerns about their diagnosis, treatment or personal situation with their families, as well as provide education, counseling and referrals to support groups related to lifestyle changes, and can help families find temporary housing near the hospital and other help.
Psychological counselors
Psychological counselors can develop a psychological support plan tailored to individual needs, allowing patients to increase their sense of control over their personal life and quality of life, and, if necessary, prescribe medications to treat depression.
Support groups
Helping patients learn how to cope with illness, and sometimes others who have had similar experiences, may empower patients to know they are not alone in facing illness.
Remember that information or experiences shared by others may not always be appropriate for you, so never replace medical advice from your doctor with advice from another patient.
Understand and document medical information
If there is medical advice or medical terminology that you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor, nurse, or other health care provider who will be happy to answer questions and address concerns.
Take notes during the visit so that you remember what the doctor has asked for, and if possible, ask a friend or family member to accompany you to the visit who can help record and ask questions and allow family and friends to sort through the information learned.
Patients can use the resources and support services available at their hospital and in their community to learn more about the disease to help relax during treatment, and to ask other patients and family members questions about breast cancer and its treatment.
Legal matters
Patients may need to prepare documents related to advance directives, such as a living will, which will specify whether the patient will receive life-prolonging modalities such as dialysis or a ventilator.
This document only comes into effect if the patient is unable to make medical decisions later in life. No one wants to think about death, but everyone should have a will, which ensures that the agent knows how to carry out the wishes.
Tips for family and friends
When family and friends accompany a patient to an appointment, feel free to ask questions of the physician, be prepared for changes in the patient’s behavior and mood; medications, discomfort, and stress can make the patient depressed, angry, or fatigued, and encourage the patient to be as positive and independent as possible.
Family and friends should also be positive about their own needs, get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and take some time for themselves, as it can be difficult to offer too much help to a patient if they are exhausted.
If you can take care of your own needs, it may be easier to meet the needs of the patient and seek help from other family members and friends whenever you can.