Social & Emotional Impacts of Cancer
Almost all cancer survivors will face psychological and emotional issues that can show up many years after treatment. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer alone. Therapy, support groups, social media and community resources are available to help you cope with these issues. The first step in coping with psychosocial changes is realizing that you have an issue and having the courage to reach out for help.
Here are some of the most common psychosocial issues that cancer survivors may deal with:
Fear of recurrence: Many survivors worry that their cancer will come back at some point. Milestone events in their cancer journey can often trigger these feelings. Knowing your own body can help distinguish between normal physical changes and more serious symptoms that need to be reported to your doctor.
Grief is a natural result of loss. Loss can include your health, sex drive, fertility and physical independence. Support groups and counseling can help you work through these issues.
Depression: It is estimated that 70% of cancer survivors experience depression at some point. Know the symptoms of depression and seek treatment as soon as possible. MD Anderson’s Psychiatric Oncology Center provides counseling and medication for anxiety and depression. Call 713-563-6666 to request a referral.
Body image: Cancer survivors who have experienced amputations, disfigurement or a major change in physical function can suffer from a lack of self-esteem. A negative body image can affect your desire for intimacy and social interaction. Honesty and open communication with loved ones can minimize negative feelings.
Spirituality: Many survivors find that life takes on new meaning after cancer and will renew their commitment to spiritual practices or organized religion. Research suggests that spirituality improves quality of life through a strong social support network, adaptive coping, lessened depression and better physiological function.
Survivor guilt: Some people wonder why they survived cancer when others don't. If you suffer from a prolonged sense of guilt, seek help from a psychotherapist, clergy member or support group.
Relationships: You may find that friends, coworkers and family members treat you differently after a cancer diagnosis. They may avoid you or won’t discuss your cancer It can help to seek new relationships with other cancer survivors who know what you’ve been through.
The workplace: Cancer survivors often feel that they can no longer relate to co-workers who haven’t experienced cancer. You may be reluctant to talk about your cancer treatment to employers or coworkers for fear of being treated differently. See if your employer has a support group or other resources for cancer survivors.
Survivor’s guilt: what it is and how to manage it
The emotional impacts of cancer can last long after treatment is completed.
Guilt is just one of the many emotions that may come up for cancer survivors. If you feel this way, you’re far from alone.
“Experiencing survivor’s guilt is incredibly common,” says Catherine Powers, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist in Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine.
Ahead, our experts talk more about survivor’s guilt, why it occurs and how to cope.
What is survivor’s guilt, and why does it occur?
Survivor’s guilt refers to feelings of guilt or sadness after surviving a cancer diagnosis, Powers says. She notes this feeling can be triggered by thinking of others who have not survived cancer.
“Patients often dismiss their own experience or believe they didn’t suffer enough when they learn about others who are doing worse or who have passed away from cancer,” she says.
Another common reason Powers says people may experience survivor’s guilt is thinking about the toll their cancer had on family and friends.
Senior social work counselor Kendolyn Shankle adds that survivor’s guilt can make you feel like you’ve done something wrong, especially if you have family or friends still undergoing treatment.
“Survivor’s guilt may occur because a patient is thinking of the friends and loved ones still completing cancer treatment. This may include the friends they made during treatment," she says.
How to handle survivor’s guilt
Powers and Shankle offer several suggestions for managing survivor’s guilt.
Understand that what you are feeling is normal
First, know that it’s OK – and even normal – to experience guilt after finishing cancer treatment.
While these feelings can be heavy and uncomfortable, Powers says they are often signs of empathy and the mind’s way of making sense of your cancer experience.
“When we do well, we want others to do well too,” she says. “We often think life is fair, and when we see that it is not, it is difficult to process."
Process your emotions
It can be tempting to avoid examining difficult emotions. But addressing your feelings can help you process them, Shankle says.
Processing emotions looks different for everyone. Some prefer to process their feelings alone, while others prefer to talk about them with loved ones.
Additionally, Powers says there are a variety of coping techniques that can be used when dealing with uncomfortable emotions.
Some coping techniques she recommends include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Visualization
- Mindfulness
- Exercise
- Seeking social support
“Focus on what is in your control and learn healthy coping techniques for what you are not able to control,” Powers says.
Still others process emotions through creative expression. MD Anderson’s Integrative Medicine Center offers music therapy and journaling classes, but you don’t need to be an MD Anderson patient to benefit from these practices. Listening to music, playing an instrument, singing, journaling and crafting are just a few creative practices that can be used to process feelings and emotions.
Pay it forward
Another way Powers recommends managing survivor’s guilt: pay it forward!
Here are some ideas you might consider:
- Volunteer at an organization that is meaningful to you.
- Offer encouragement to others facing cancer.
- Make a care package with products that made treatment more comfortable for you.
- Send flowers to a friend or loved one going through treatment.
- Share your experience with others in treatment through a program such as myCancerConnection, MD Anderson’s one-on-one cancer support community.
Practice self-care
Self-care can help relieve the physical and mental challenges of cancer survivorship.
This practice can take on many forms. For example, Powers says participating in activities or work that give you meaning is a form of self-care.
Here are other ways to practice self-care:
- Learn a new self-soothing technique.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Add physical activity to your routine.
Join a support group
If you’re experiencing survivor’s guilt, you may also benefit from connecting with other cancer survivors.
Support groups, such as MD Anderson’s cancer survivorship groups, provide an opportunity for connection, reflection and healing.
Seek professional help
Sometimes, emotions like survivor’s guilt can feel like too much to handle alone. That’s where professional counselors can help.
Current and former MD Anderson patients can reach out to their care team to be referred to a professional.
“If you feel like you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a therapist to guide you in putting words to your feelings and establishing coping techniques,” Shankle says.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
How to manage the fear of cancer recurrence
Overcoming cancer or completing treatment can make many survivors feel like they’re on top of the world. But there’s another very real, raw emotion that cancer survivors feel as well: fear of recurrence, or fear of cancer coming back.
While fear of recurrence is normal among cancer survivors, grappling with that fear can be difficult, especially when you just want to move forward in your life.
To learn more about fear of recurrence and how to manage it, we tapped the experts: Sarah Stone, senior social work counselor in our Gynecologic Oncology Center; Traci Newsom, senior social work counselor at MD Anderson League City; and Jordan Green, social work counselor in our Adolescent and Young Adult program.
Anxiety about the unknown is normal
People who experience fear of recurrence often have anxiety about every pain, discomfort or sensation they have in their body.
“Someone could have a pain in their foot and immediately think their cancer has come back,” says Stone. “Even though logically they know it’s not cancer, they still have that irrational fear.”
Any new pain can also trigger a similar response.
“A lot of times, if a person experiences a new pain, they associate it with one of their previous cancer symptoms,” says Green. “They can begin to spiral thinking this is the return of their cancer.”
A lot of the anxiety stems from individuals not trusting their bodies.
“I’ve had several patients who tell me they experienced a lot of side effects from their chemotherapy treatments, and if they had to go through that again, they don’t know if they could handle it,” says Green. “It’s a whirlwind of anxiety where they get stuck thinking they won’t know what to do when in reality they’ve already accomplished so much. They have the coping skills, the strength and the supportive team. It’s just about getting in that mindset.”
Adolescents and young adults face unique challenges
Green, who works with patients ages 15 to 39, says being diagnosed with cancer at a young age often presents its own challenges when it comes to fear of recurrence.
“A lot of the fear is, ‘I didn’t have any control over it the first time, so what am I supposed to do if it comes back?’” says Green. “Because of this fear, many adolescents will stunt their personal growth. They choose not to go back to school, avoid making friends or starting new relationships because they fear if the cancer comes back, they’ll lose all of these things.”
A lot of the focus goes on reframing the mindset from one of doom to realizing not everything is a recurrence.
“It’s a lot of one symptom, one pain, one day at a time,” says Green. “It’s one single moment at a time of ‘I can trust my body that this cough is just a cough.’”
In MD Anderson’s Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic, Green and her colleagues build relationships with patients during counseling sessions, which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help reframe thoughts about recurrence.
“We help them understand that sometimes they just have a cold or sometimes they’re having a panic attack because they’re anxious,” says Green. “We teach them the difference between physiological symptoms and what is just kind of in their head.”
Recognize your triggers
People who don’t necessarily live with the fear of recurrence every day can still be triggered by certain things.
“They could be getting along just fine, and then something might happen, whether it’s the anniversary of their cancer diagnosis, upcoming scans or even a commercial on TV about cancer,” says Newsom. “It triggers that fear and takes them right back to a place of anxiety.”
Every person is different, so it’s important to learn how to recognize your triggers so you can manage them.
“When you’re triggered, stop what you’re doing and implement some kind of coping mechanism, whether that’s taking five deep breaths, going for a walk, or calling a friend to distract you,” says Newsom. “If you’re aware of what triggers you, you can better manage them. Because triggers will happen.”
Learn effective coping strategies
One way to cope with the fear of recurrence is to focus on what you can control.
“You can’t control whether cancer returns, so instead, focus on what you can do to support yourself in other ways,” says Stone. “Do things that make you feel good, like getting enough rest, spending time in nature, singing, petting dogs, laughing, participating in hobbies or spending time with loved ones.”
Anything that can help you stay in the present moment and not worry about what could happen in the future is best.
“Many people in the cancer survivorship support group I facilitate talk about the importance of gratitude, and when they’re feeling overwhelmed, it helps them to focus on the things they have to be grateful for,” says Newsom. “A lot of them keep a gratitude journal, so in moments of anxiety, they get it out and remind themselves that they have so many great things going on in their lives.”
Finding a coping strategy that works for you doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking; it’s easier to start small.
“Do one thing a day that's just for you – not for your significant other, your spouse, your children, your caregivers or your medical team,” says Green. “It could be working toward a personal goal or just sitting outside watching the sunrise while drinking your favorite cup of coffee. Being able to choose to do something you enjoy is a great way to start your day.”
Resources and support at MD Anderson
If you or a loved one is struggling with fear of recurrence, MD Anderson offers many resources to help. Some of these resources include:
- Support groups for patients, caregivers and survivors
- Social work counselors you can speak with about your fears
- myCancerConnection, a one-on-one cancer support community for survivors, patients and caregivers
- Active Living After Cancer, a 12-week program aimed at improving the quality of life for cancer survivors by promoting physical activities and providing survivorship support
- The Learning Center, a patient education library that offers information on cancer prevention, treatment, coping and general health
Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.
