Cancer is a serious disease characterized by a complex course and treatment, but not a sentence. Despite the relatively high mortality rate, many patients manage to go into remission. When the disease recedes, the countdown of a new life begins for the patient, both physically and psychologically. A person’s view of the world changes and there is a reassessment of values, but new psychological problems appear. Oncological pathology is a chronic disease, which, even in remission, imposes certain obligations on the patient’s lifestyle and behavior. How to deal with it and start living a full life?
Remission in oncology
Remission in cancer is a condition in which the tumor responds to ongoing treatment and the pathology is under control. After the symptoms of oncopathology disappear (go into remission), the person becomes, as it were, part of a miracle. There comes a euphoria, which is accompanied by a strong release of adrenaline. Over time, the patient calms down, begins to understand more and more that his life has changed and will not return to its previous course, you need to adapt to it. Then deep satisfaction can be replaced by many new problems: disappointment, anxiety and fear of relapse, social isolation, and then lead to depression.
Fear of relapse
During an illness, a person has to endure physical and mental pain, exhausting treatment procedures. During this period, he can become maladapted, lose his independence, his former appearance and trust in people. And it is quite reasonable to be afraid that the cancer will come back and have to go through everything again. Relapse is possible, but his fear should not dominate in life. The experience of each person is individual and is associated with psychological characteristics. The strength of emotional experiences depends on a number of factors: the type of temperament, the complexity of the disease, the stage at which a person managed to get rid of the disease, family relationships, support from relatives and friends. In addition, this fear is fueled by the fact that more often we hear about death from malignant tumors than about positive examples and successful fight against them. The more we discuss that behind the diagnosis of cancer there are cases of healing, the continuation of life, the less this fear will be.
It is necessary to talk about your experiences, feelings with relatives or with an oncopsychologist. A person should not have a ban on the manifestation of feelings. Emotions such as fear and sadness are also needed, they need to be given an outlet. Refusal of their residence leaves a mark in our body. But fear should not be a reason to retreat, but, on the contrary, an incentive to take a step forward. You can’t completely go into the disease and think only about it, especially when it is no longer there.
You have to go through fear and understand that real life is happening behind him. No one knows what will happen tomorrow, and this phrase should be invested not in the expectation of the worst, but in the belief in the best. Doctors and oncopsychologists are unanimous: a patient who retains the will to live and a positive attitude is much more likely to overcome cancer and be in long-term remission.
Recovery after cancer
Full-fledged rehabilitation after cancer is to restore physical and psycho-emotional balance. First of all, in order to return to daily life, it is important to monitor the state of your health, following the long-term recommendations of the oncologist. He will help plan your future life, prescribe supportive, restorative therapy in the form of immunostimulants, vitamins and nutritional supplements, talk about prevention methods (balanced nutrition, giving up bad habits, body weight control). Physical exercise will also help. They increase the vitality of a person and are necessary not only to maintain the functional health of the body, but also to relieve mental and psychological tension, stress, help to distract from obsessive thoughts. But you should observe the measure in everything, in this case, even cleaning the house is considered an active activity. Walk more often, paying attention to what we usually forget: how the wind rustles, touching your face, how the leaves rustle or the snow crunches under your feet. Raise your eyes and watch the moving clouds, enjoy their beauty.
I always urge you to take care of yourself at the stage of treatment and remission. Do not waste time on things that make you upset and worried. Focus only on activities that bring you joy. Read good books, watch your favorite movies, communicate only with people you like and get creative. It really heals. For example, art therapy is a gentle and gentle method that helps not to speak directly about difficult feelings (it really hurts a lot), but to express them in creativity, to find a form for them. It can be a drawing on canvas, a dough figurine, or a handmade bar of soap. You can also express your emotions through music or dance. If some occupation was your old dream, then now is the time to realize it.
It must be remembered that all recovery processes in the physical body are most active in a state of peace of mind. The nervous system at rest interacts with the endocrine system responsible for the production of happiness hormones, which in turn stimulates the activity of the immune system. Thus, each patient is recommended to master the techniques of self-soothing, relaxation, meditation, self-hypnosis.
There is life after cancer
In general, in order to overcome the fear of relapse and live on, it is necessary to change the attitude towards oneself and the world. Listen to your feelings and sensations, ask yourself what you really want. Think about how you want to live in the future, what can be changed. Realize that there is life after a cancer diagnosis, and you must give yourself the right to desires and dreams that you may have completely forgotten about. Believe and love yourself, treat your body with care, like a temple, and know that despite difficulties and losses, you can find support and be happy.
To go through the recovery period and return to normal life, you need to face your fears, mourn your illusions, say yes to your desires! Determine priorities and place life accents. Set yourself specific goals, plans for life (for the morning, afternoon, week, month and year), and immediately begin to implement your plan. For example, you can write down on paper: where I am, what I am striving for, describe the obstacles on this path and methods of how to get around or overcome them, passing through them. It will also be useful to write down on paper what you like in life, what brings joy. It can be a delicious breakfast today or the smell of coffee yesterday, a kiss from your child and other moments that brought you pleasure. Begin each paragraph with the phrase “I love.” When it becomes difficult for you and it seems that there is no support, open this list. All these points, recorded smells and sounds are a reminder of life and that it deserves to be lived. Appreciate time and any reasons for joy, enjoy the little things.