A diagnosis of breast cancer is a very emotionally difficult experience. There are many mental effects from trying to comprehend and handle a cancer diagnosis. Grappling with the issue of a possibly deadly disease requires enormous mental strength. The mental effects of breast cancer vary with each patient and may become overwhelming at times. The ongoing treatment of breast cancer, including possibly chemotherapy and radiation, may increase stress, and the exhaustion these treatments may cause can lead to more difficult metal effects.
Increase in Stress
Stress levels may rise dramatically after a breast cancer diagnosis. A patient's normal coping abilities may become overwhelmed by information overload. Techniques such as yoga, which helps patients relax, may help to lessen the mental strain of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Withdrawal From Others
Many patients struggle with how to tell friends, family and spouses or significant others about the diagnosis. They may become isolated if they cannot make the news public that they have breast cancer. Meditation is a technique that may help patients become more confident in their ability to convey the news of their diagnosis. Spending quiet time with the body during meditation may help in accepting the difficult news of cancer and provide the strength to share the news with others.
Job Concerns
Mental stress due to job concerns is often an issue for breast cancer patients. Patients may worry about losing a job due to taking time off for cancer treatment. They may also experience depression due to the isolation from work friends and associates when they are away from work for treatments.
Financial Stress
Financial stress may also impact the mental health of a breast cancer patient. Patients who undergo surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may find that their health insurance does not fully cover all of the medical bills. They may also go over the allocated amount of sick time available at work and thus lose their source of income while treatment is ongoing. Financial stress adds to the feeling of having no control and the mental stress of trying to handle a breast cancer diagnosis.
Pain-Created Stress
The physical pain from cancer treatments may have an intense psychological impact. Patients may become overwhelmed by pain during cancer treatment and become unable to follow their typical routines for activities and work responsibilities. Keeping a pain journal may be a way to alleviate the stress of pain associated with a cancer diagnosis, according to BreastCancer.org. Writing is very therapeutic and helps lessen mental stress. A pain journal could also help document treatment results and associated pain for the doctor to analyze.
Body-Change Stress
Changes to the body may increase mental stress in breast cancer patients. The American Cancer Society notes that it is important to speak to the doctor and those providing treatment about how the changes breast cancer brings to the body can affect the patient emotionally. Breast cancer patients may have to grapple with scars from surgery, possible loss of one or both breasts, hair loss or the loss of a vibrant appearance while treatment saps energy. These changes to appearance and body may impact breast cancer patients and require them to seek counseling to handle the emotions inherent with a breast cancer diagnosis.
