It is often said that cancer is a disease of the mind rather than the body and this is one of the many other sides of cancer. Although the effects of the disease on the body are severe, it is the mental well being of the patient, that gets affected the most. It is necessary to understand sides of cancer for defeating the disease, as it requires the patient to be mentally strong as the treatment includes undergoing an operation to remove the tumour and beyond that the patient needs to undergo radiotherapy or chemotherapy or both which drains out all the strength the person has.
Initially when a person is diagnosed with cancer he is under a state of shock and denial. The thoughts like ‘why me’ and ‘what now’ are the first ones to rush into their minds. It is like a state where you see your life start collapsing in front of you. Some people start living in denial and deny taking treatment. They start living under an illusion and try to make themselves believe that they are not affected by the disease. In order to be able to defeat cancer the first step for the patient is to accept the fact that he is suffering from the disease and seek medical help as soon as possible. For people who are unable to accept it. The family and the close ones need to help them come out of the state of denial.
Some patients have a lot of fear regarding the painful procedures involved in the treatment of cancer. They need to be explained in depth as to how the whole procedure is carried out and how effective and necessary the procedures are. They need to be made to look at the positive side of being cured by the treatment. Some patients suffer from anxiety and panic attack when diagnosed with cancer. The symptoms of anxiety and panic include sleeplessness, palpitation, persistent headache, restlessness, etc. In case the symptoms are severe the patients need to undergo counselling along with the treatment.
Some types of Chemo sessions can leave you with Anaemia. Anaemia is basically the lack of red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs contain haemoglobin and the haemoglobin carries oxygen to the body. Hence, the lack of RBCs can lead to a reduced RBC count and the oxygen flow through the body gets curtailed. This is one of the most important reasons for the stress on nutrition and correct diet while dealing with cancer. Having anaemia is sure to make you feel fatigued and weak all the time. In such a case, it is important to conserve your energy, take small naps and eat the right kind of food.
One needs to realise that if one survives cancer, one will never be able to look at life in the same way. The change in the outlook that the disease brings about is bound to stay with you even after you recuperate. Have some goals even while combating cancer and make sure you work towards them. Do the things that you love, as it will help reduce your stress and keep your mind off the illness.
