Kim Penberthy of the University of Virginia says cancer treatment can be as difficult for a patient’s mental health as the diagnosis.
Kim Penberthy of the University of Virginia says cancer treatment can be as difficult for a patient’s mental health as the diagnosis.
“Mental health issues can create a cycle of stress, impact on sleep, and weaken the immune system,” says Penberthy.
She is a health psychologist at UVA and says new patients who are under stress after a cancer diagnosis may also experience physical problems.
“Treatment can be just as difficult as diagnosis,” Penberthy says.
She said new patients should ask their doctors for tools to deal with their diagnosis.
“If you’re struggling with stress, depression, or anxiety, it’s important to address it through some type of therapy so that everything will be okay,” says Penberthy.
She also says patients should rely on the support of loved ones.
“The important thing is to pick yourself up,” she said.
As a loved one, you can’t change or fix that, but you can offer your presence, Penberthy added.
“It’s great to be positive, but I think it can sometimes make people feel negative,” she said.
She says to avoid platitudes and unsolicited advice, and instead ask open-ended questions and offer support with daily tasks.
“Sometimes you need someone to go with you to appointments, and sometimes you need someone to stay home and feed the animals or watch the kids,” she says.
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