A cancer diagnosis can feel like life has been turned upside down. Whether it’s you who’s affected, or a family member or friend, it brings about painful and sometimes complicated emotions that can be difficult to process. Counseling can be an important part of the treatment process, to help cope with these emotions and to provide support as you navigate the difficult journey ahead..

Counseling with me will help you to navigate the emotional impact of cancer by providing an objective and supportive space to discuss your thoughts and feelings. Likewise, if you are supporting someone who is living with cancer, counseling can provide a space for you to speak openly about what's going on without worries you are adding to the worries of your loved one.

How cancer can affect your mental health

Each person responds in their own way to cancer, and this can change as you proceed from diagnosis to treatment to post-treatment and beyond.

Diagnosis

People with cancer, and their families, are confronted with a number of complex feelings after hearing the word cancer. This may include:

• Disbelief, shock and panic upon first hearing diagnosis

• Being in daze, unable to think clearly

• A sense of helplessness feeling things are out of control

• Vulnerability and fear

• Anger and hostility

• Anxiety about the future and about your loved ones

• Guilt

Treatment

As people with cancer begin treatment there are often conflicting emotions: relief to be taking action against the disease and worry over the outcome. In the midst of the physical reactions that are experienced, there are a range of emotional responses, particularly as a result of life changes family, work, and school

•  Anxiety, depression, and fear

•  Feelings of loss of control as medical appointments consume your time

•  Mood swings and irritability

•  Difficulty sleeping

•  Spiritual worries

•  Guilt and concern about burdening family and friends

Post-Treatment

This is often a period of mixed emotions as you step away from the frequent treatment and support of the medical team. Responses might include:

•  Vulnerability and fear of cancer’s recurrence without ongoing treatment

•  Worry, confusion, and sometimes shame over the resumption of activities

•  Stress while awaiting results of regular scans and other tests

•  Persistent thoughts about death and dying

Recurrence

The experience of cancer’s recurrence is a period of great distress for people with cancer and their families:

•  Sadness and anger

•  Overwhelm as new treatment options are considered

•  Anxiety and fear of the future and worries about your loved ones

•  Realignment of purpose and priorities

•  Hopelessness or helplessness

•  Spiritual uncertainty or distress

How counseling can help

Sometimes after a cancer diagnosis we need help in adjusting to a 'new normal'. Counseling can help you to navigate some of the thoughts and feelings you may be having after receiving a cancer diagnosis and can help teach you strategies on how best to manage these symptoms

This might include:

•  Help manage your stress and anxiety

•  Techniques to help you cope better with pain

•  Assistance with sleep problems

•  To navigate body changes which might include changes in the way you look, maybe

•  changes in the wav your brain works and changes to your sexuality

•  Reducing distress around ongoing thoughts about the cancer coming back

•  Help with communicating with the loved ones around you

•  Adjusting to the change in your role at work or home

•  Help with coming to terms with your cancer diagnosis

A few tips for managing the psychological and emotional experience of living with cancer:

• Be kind to yourself and adjust your expectations accordingly. Set yourself small goals, work on them when you feel emotionally and physically able to, and when you don't- that's ok!

• Reward yourself for your achievements…even getting the washing done some days will be a huge task, and that achievement deserves recognition and self-praise

• Keeping a journal can help to externalize and make sense of some of your thoughts, emotions and experiences

• Consider the "bigger picture". What is important to you? What do you value most? How can you make time for those things?

• Make time for relaxation. Try either through formal relaxation or *mindfulness* practices or informal relaxation like listening to music, reading a book or sitting in the sun

• Try to keep your body as healthy as possible- light exercise, balanced diet, good hydration, and avoiding drugs and alcohol can all help with managing your mood

• Talk to people. Talking to family and friends can help you to feel heard and supported. Talking to people who have been through similar experiences can help you to not feel so alone in your experience.

As well as helping people to navigate change, cancer counseling can help with other aspects of living with cancer including:

•  Adjustment to diagnosis, change of prognosis and coping with treatment

•  Working through grief and loss, bereavement and end of life issues

•  Relaxation and mindfulness training to cope with stress

•  Pain management and coping with physical symptoms

•  Relationship issues and couples counselling

•  Anxiety, fear, and phobia management

•  Depression

•  Body image and sexuality

•  Sleep difficulties

•  Problem-solving and decision-making

•  Addiction

•  Health behavior change (e.g. quitting smoking or dietary changes)

•  General psychological coping strategies

Help for Family and Friends

Not living with cancer yourself, but overwhelmed by the diagnosis of someone you love? Counseling can help with a variety of distressing issues including navigating difficult news and the feelings of sadness, fear, helplessness, and guilt that can arise. By taking care of yourself, you will be more emotionally available for your loved one.