Despite the fact that survival outcomes in breast cancer are improving with medical advancement, the diagnosis of breast cancer leads to significant distress among patients. Since the word ‘cancer’ itself is synonymous with pain, suffering and death, it’s natural for patients to find it hard to accept the diagnosis. Many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have to initially fight depression and anxiety before looking forward to the treatment.
‘Many a times the person is otherwise healthy and can’t accept the fact that she is suffering from such a disease. Some usual reactions that we get from patients are — ‘It can’t be me/my beloved’ or ‘why me?’ or ‘I have always had a healthy lifestyle, I can’t have cancer or how can I have cancer?’ says Vedant Kabra, Director, Surgical Oncology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. These thoughts and reactions not only hamper the state of mind of patients but also affect their well-being and treatment outcome. Here are 6 breast cancer symptoms you should never ignore
According to Dr Dhairyasheel Savant, Consultant Cancer & Reconstructive Surgeon, Asian Institute of Oncology, early recognition and management of post-diagnosis of breast cancer distress can improve treatment adherence and reduce mortality costs by 25%. Therefore, it is important for doctors, family members of patients and patients themselves to make adaptive changes by accepting the diagnosis in the least stressful way. These 10 tips that can help you detect breast cancer at an early stage and improve treatment outcome.
What role does a doctor play in helping a patient accept breast cancer diagnosis?
‘The first year after being diagnosed with breast cancer is the most difficult time to handle. It is accompanied with various challenges covering the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of the patients’ lives. During this time, there may be an increased sense of vulnerability, confusion, uncertainty, feeling of loss of control, apart from persistent concern about existence and survival. This is often exacerbated when caregivers fail to provide sufficient information to the patients. It may also trigger scheduling conflicts with various healthcare providers like surgeon, physician and radiotherapist,’ says Dr Savant. It is exactly this stage when doctors should step-in to help the patient catch hold of the situation.
‘Doctors always have a key role to play in making the patient understand about diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. A doctor must be compassionate and understand the psyche of the patient and his/her family and break the news in such a way that it comes with hope for the treatment of disease or the problems associated with it. Sometimes, it may take a while for the patient or the family to accept the diagnosis. Doctors need to be patient and understanding in such a situation. Sometimes, help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist is also sought to bring the patient/family out of this denial phase,’ says Dr Kabra.
Dr Savant points out some psychological interventions that doctors can offer patients to accept the diagnosis:
- Doctors should first work towards educating the patient and family members about the disease and assist them in their decision making.
- They may suggest counselling or medications to overcome distress.
- They can improve coping skills of the patient through discussions.
- They can help in adaptation to cancer survivor-ship.
- They should also address and assist with end-of-life issues the patients have to deal with.
- Help women to process their feelings and experiences to maximise positive gains and reprioritisation of life goals.
What should patients do to fight the disease positively?
No matter what efforts the doctors put in to instil hope about positive treatment outcome in you, in the end it is only your thinking and your general attitude towards life that will keep you away from negative thoughts and a feeling of self-resentment after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr Savant offers some expert tips for you to accept breast cancer diagnosis and fight the disease positively:
- Consult experts and discuss treatment approaches in detail with the doctor.
- Follow the treatment and adhere to it according to the plan.
- Be positive about fighting and winning over the disease.
- Seek support from family and friends when you think you’re not able to cope with it.
- Don’t give up on a healthy lifestyle just because you’re suffering from cancer. Practice healthy eating habits and exercise regularly.
- Practice meditation and yoga to keep your mind calm and refreshed.
- Engage yourself in work and activities that make you happy.
- Never ever compare your disease, treatment plan or outcome with other patients. Remember, cancer behaves differently in different people, even at same stage. Get inspired by this real story of a woman who fought real story of a woman who fought breast cancer
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