Coping with a Breast Cancer Diagnosis:

Emotional support and coping strategies for breast cancer patients

1. Dealing with Emotions

After learning that you have breast cancer, one can feel bad, this should not be the case, there is no right or wrong way to feel. Numerous feelings, such as fear, shock, and rage, as well as disbelief, melancholy, and numbness, are likely to pass through you.

Your feelings could fluctuate hourly or even from day to day. It is usual to experience moments of deep depression followed by upbeat moments. After receiving a diagnosis, the days and weeks that follow can be extremely emotional and difficult.

To cope with this situation, try to do the following:

• Think about how you coped with previous trauma or stress – you could try using these methods again now
• Use your breast care nurse – they can help you understand your diagnosis and treatment options and support you during your treatment and beyond
• Be kind to yourself – it may help to take time to rest, eat healthily, keep active and, when you can, do something you enjoy
• Talk to family and friends about how you’re feeling – you might like to read our tips on telling family and friends about your cancer, in section 4 of this page

• Fear and Worry

It’s scary to learn that you have cancer. You may be afraid or worried about:

• being in pain, either from the cancer or the treatment
• feeling sick or looking different as a result of your treatment
• taking care of your family
• paying your bills
• keeping your job
• dying

Some fears about cancer are based on stories, rumors, or wrong information. To cope with fears and worries, it often helps to be informed. Most people feel better when they learn the facts. They feel less afraid and know what to expect. Learn about your cancer and understand what you can do to be an active partner in your care.

Stress and Anxiety

It is normal to feel stressed about all the changes you are going through in your life both during and after treatment. Many people experience confusion or tension due to things like:

• If tests and treatments will be covered by insurance
• Where to go for emotional assistance
• How to obtain assistance with daily tasks
• How cancer may impact their employment obtaining transport to and from treatment sessions

Your body may not heal as effectively as it should due to stress. Being proactive and discussing difficulties like those mentioned above at the beginning of treatment is crucial.

Sadness and Depression

Many cancer patients experience sadness. They experience a sense of loss regarding their health as well as the life they led before to learning they had the condition. Even after the treatment is over, one can still feel depressed. This is a typical reaction to any severe sickness. Working through and accepting all of the changes that are occurring could take some time.

One can feel exhausted, have little energy, or not want to eat while depressed. These emotions may fade or weaken with time for some people. However, these feelings could intensify for certain people. The unpleasant emotions persist and interfere with day-to-day existence.

Depression can be treated. Below are common signs of depression. If you have any of the following signs for more than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor about treatment. Be aware that some of these symptoms could be due to physical problems, so it’s important to talk about them with your doctor.

Emotional signs:

• feelings of sadness that don’t go away
• feeling emotionally numb
• feeling nervous or shaky
• having a sense of guilt or feeling unworthy
• feeling helpless or hopeless, as if life has no meaning
• feeling short-tempered, moody

If your doctor thinks that you suffer from depression, they may give you medicine to help you feel less tense. Or they may refer you to other experts. Don’t feel that you should have to control these feelings on your own. Getting the help you need is important for your life and your health.

Guilty

If you feel guilty, realize that you’re not alone. Many individuals who have cancer do. Sometimes, people hold themselves responsible for:

• Disturbing the people they care about.
• Having the impression that they’re a burden.
• Missing a day of work.
• Having to pay for the price of cancer treatment.
• Being ashamed of feeling envious of other people’s wonderful health.
• Making decisions that they believe may have contributed to cancer.

Remember that having cancer is not your fault. No one knows why some people get cancer while others don’t. It may help you to share your feelings with someone. Let your doctor know if you would like to talk with a counselor or go to a support group