Peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, depression, and anxiety affect many people both during and after cancer treatment. ASCO recently published guidelines outlining the best ways to prevent and manage these side effects based on current research.
Samantha Rose describes the pressure cancer survivors like her put on themselves to feel happy and optimistic after finishing treatment and how she has learned to be more patient with herself.
Humor is one way to cope with the intense feelings triggered by a cancer diagnosis. Sharing a laugh with friends and family can help you keep a positive outlook on life, give you a renewed sense of control, and even boost your body’s healing processes.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. Some people develop PTSD after experiencing a frightening or life-threatening situation. PTSD is most often referred to in situations such as living through war, a sexual or physical attack, abuse, or a serious accident. Cancer and cancer treatment can also cause PTSD. For example, one study shows that nearly 1 in 4 women who had recently been told they had breast cancer had PTSD.
Anxiety is a common emotion. Most people feel anxious from time to time. Feeling anxious may be described as feeling nervous, on edge, or worried. These are emotions that help us respond to a problem or threat. Cancer often brings more anxiety. If you or a loved one have recently been diagnosed with cancer or are going through cancer treatment, anxiety is an expected reaction.
Grief is a normal response to the loss of a brother or sister. But adult siblings are sometimes called "forgotten mourners" because their grief is often overshadowed by the grief of other family members, such as the person’s parents, spouse, or children.
Regardless of the type of relationship you had with your sibling, you have the right to grieve. Family members and friends may not understand the role your sibling played in your life. So it is important to communicate to them that you need their support.
A sibling’s death can have many effects on a person, such as:
Children and teenagers express their grief in a variety of ways. Some may be sad and verbalize the loss like many adults. Depending on their ages, however, they may show sadness only sometimes and for short periods. Children may complain of physical discomfort, such as stomachaches or headaches. Or they may express anxiety or distress about other challenges, such as school or sports.
When you have cancer, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan that is most likely to have the greatest benefits and the fewest risks or side effects. A doctor who treats people with cancer is called an oncologist. The initial treatment is referred to as first-line treatment or first-line therapy. This treatment is usually what worked best in clinical trials for people with the same type and stage of cancer.
Sometimes after cancer treatment, cancer comes back or returns. This is called a cancer recurrence. It can happen weeks, months, or even years after the original cancer was treated.
For most parents, few things are as frightening as hearing from the doctor that your child has cancer. Parents are dealing with their own fears and confusion at this time. Yet, they must also face the task of helping their child understand his or her diagnosis.
