(PDF) Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries
When 'Cancer' Gets In The Way Of Treatment
A diagnosis is more than words on a page. It's everything that comes with it: the doctor's tone of voice, a gentle touch of the hand, the pauses left so the patient can digest the news. All of these details subtly impart how you should think about the label that you've just been given.
But one diagnostic word in particular threatens to derail any rational discussion of its meaning: cancer.
"'Cancer' is just this panic word," said Laura Scherer, a social psychologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus who studies how doctors communicate risk. Patients compare hearing the term to "getting hit by a truck, like they can't process anything that comes after," she said.
Kirsten McCaffery, a health researcher and psychologist at the University of Sydney's School of Public Health, added, "That 'cancer' label is kind of an anxiety bomb that goes off for patients."
That's why some oncologists argue that, for certain early cancers that aren't at risk of spreading, the medical profession should do away with the word altogether.
At the heart of the debate is the common breast cancer diagnosis DCIS, or ductal carcinoma in situ. The phrase, which describes cancer cells confined to the lining of the milk ducts, is somewhat of an oxymoron. The National Cancer Institute defines cancer as cells that, if left untreated, will grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body; "in situ," however, means limited to one place.
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8 Ways To Provide Support To Someone With Metastatic Breast Cancer
A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer can be a stressful time of physical, emotional, and financial challenges. These challenges also exist for family and friends of the person receiving the diagnosis.
However, there are many ways to support your loved one and help them navigate this difficult time. From offering emotional support to helping with daily tasks, your presence and caring can make a big difference.
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1. Emotional Support Metastatic breast cancer often brings feelings of fear, sadness, and uncertainty. Being there to listen can provide comfort and support. Encourage your loved one to share their feelings, and don't worry if you don't have the answers to their concerns. Just being there, even if it's sitting together in silence, can make them feel less alone. Small gestures like sending a thoughtful text message or a handwritten card can brighten their day and remind them that they are cared for. Don't worry that a hug or a gentle touch is going to hurt them, it may be exactly what they need to feel supported. 2. Counseling or Support Groups Sometimes, talking to others who understand what you're going through can be helpful. People with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers can look into counseling or support groups. These groups provide a safe space to share experiences and learn from others. Organizations like the American Cancer Society and others may offer online and in-person support groups for people with cancer and their caregivers. If the person with cancer is nervous about joining a group, offer to attend a session with them or help them find virtual options that they may be more comfortable with. If groups meet in person, providing a ride is another way to support them. 3. Practical Assistance With Daily Tasks Everyday chores can be overwhelming for someone with metastatic breast cancer. They may have fatigue from the disease or its treatment side effects. Offer to help with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping. Dropping off a homemade meal or running errands can make a big difference and help ease their burden. Additionally, setting up a schedule with other friends or family members can provide them with consistent help while preventing all of the work from falling on one person. 4. Managing Medical Care Navigating healthcare provider appointments, treatments, and medications can be stressful. Offer to help keep track of their schedule, take notes during appointments, or organize medical paperwork. If there is a second set of eyes and ears during a visit with the healthcare provider, things are less likely to be missed. You may also help organize their medications to ensure they are taking the correct medication at the proper time. 5. Navigating Treatment Decisions and Side Effects When faced with a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, making treatment decisions and managing side effects can be stressful and overwhelming. Support your loved one by researching treatment options with them and discussing potential side effect management with their healthcare team. Offering to drive them to treatments or sit with them during chemotherapy sessions can provide both practical and emotional support. You may also want to keep a record of their symptoms and side effects to share with their healthcare team. 6. Finding Financial Aid Cancer treatments and medications can be expensive. Assist them with finding financial aid programs, grants, or fundraising options. Assisting them with the paperwork for financial assistance can relieve some of their stress. Helping to review insurance policies can be important as well. 7. Learning More About Metastatic Breast Cancer Educate yourself about metastatic breast cancer to better understand what your loved one is going through. Knowing more about their condition can help you provide informed support. You might also think about attending webinars or reading books written by experts on metastatic breast cancer to increase your knowledge. 8. Spiritual Support For some people, spiritual support provides comfort and strength. Whether it's prayer, meditation, or finding moments of peace, consider what would be most supportive to your loved one. If they are religious, offer to attend a service with them or connect them with their spiritual leader. For those who aren't religious, activities like walking outdoors, practicing mindfulness techniques, or journaling can provide a sense of peace and calm. Other Tips for Caregivers Caring for someone with metastatic breast cancer can be emotionally and physically exhausting. To take care of them, you also need to take care of yourself. Here are some tips to prevent burnout: Take breaks when needed and ask for help from other friends or family members. Join a caregiver support group to share your experiences and learn from others. Set realistic boundaries. Stay active and eat well to maintain your health. Keep a journal to process your emotions. Remember that feeling a mix of emotions is OK. Make time for activities you enjoy, even just a few minutes daily. Don't hesitate to contact a therapist or counselor if you need more support. Summary A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer presents significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges, not only for the person diagnosed but also for their loved ones. Providing support can make a big difference. Caregivers should also prioritize their well-being by setting boundaries, seeking support, and practicing self-care to prevent burnout. Small acts can go a long way in showing your support during this challenging time.4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Alfieri S, Brunelli C, Capri G, Caraceni A, Bianchi GV, Borreani C. A qualitative study on the needs of women with metastatic breast cancer. J Canc Educ. 2022;37(5):1322-1331. Doi:10.1007/s13187-020-01954-4
American Cancer Society. Being a friend to someone with cancer.
National Cancer Institute. Financial toxicity and cancer treatment.
American Cancer Society. Caregiver resource guide.
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Other Helpful Report an Error10 Coping Methods For Anxiety And Depression Caused By Metastatic Breast Cancer
A metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can cause feelings of anxiety or depression. These emotions are normal and affect about half of people with metastatic breast cancer. If you're feeling anxious or depressed due to your health condition, it's important to know that you are not alone.
Uncertainty and fear are involved with this diagnosis, and it is considered a traumatic experience. Strategies for managing your mental health can help you live your best life as you move forward with your treatment. Support from others, meditation, relaxation techniques, and enjoying activities that make you happy are some ways you can cope.
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1. Join a Support Group Support groups can be helpful to people living with metastatic breast cancer. As part of a support group, you can connect with others going through similar challenges and get practical tips and advice for coping with your condition and emotions. Additionally, helping others in your support group can feel empowering. You can give and receive encouragement, support, and information through a support network. When you first join, you might need time to adjust and feel safe in that community and environment. You could observe for a while to see whether the group feels encouraging and whether you would connect and have things in common with others in the group. 2. Practice Relaxation Techniques Research has shown that relaxation techniques can improve anxiety and depression for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Many people don't know how to put their minds at ease during stressful times. You can work with professionals to learn relaxation techniques so you can incorporate calmness and peace into your life on a regular basis—and whenever you start to feel triggers that could worsen your symptoms of anxiety or depression. 3. Maintain Regular Physical Activity Regular physical activity, including moderate-intensity exercise, can help improve your mood. A sedentary lifestyle and a lack of activity contribute to depression and anxiety. Research shows exercise has a positive impact on symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. If you plan to start an exercise routine, discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe. Even if you usually exercise, you may need to make some adjustments if recovering from surgery. Preventing Infections If you take medication that weakens your immune system, consider infection-prevention habits if you work out in a place where many people exercise, such as using cleaning agents prior to touching equipment. 4. Focus on a Healthy Lifestyle Lifestyle factors have a strong impact on anxiety and depression, and some adjustments can go a long way toward alleviating your symptoms. Lifestyle factors to consider include: Getting enough sleep Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule Avoiding skipping meals Minimizing or avoiding alcohol Refraining from using recreational drugs Abstaining from smoking or quitting smoking if you already smoke (you may need professional help during this process) Eating a healthy diet rich in nutrients and low in processed foods Avoiding skipping meals Staying hydrated Paying attention to how caffeine affects you and adjusting if necessary Additionally, it's important that you do things you enjoy, such as hobbies, exercise, socializing, and entertainment. It can take some time to find the right balance, especially if you're dealing with low energy or other side effects of your breast cancer treatment. Over time, you should be able to find a balance between enjoyable activities and getting enough rest. 5. Communicate Your Feelings With Loved Ones Living with breast cancer is stressful. The uncertainty and changes in your life can be hard to cope with. It's important that you communicate and share your feelings with trusted friends and family. People may be uncertain of how to talk with you about your illness, and when you share your feelings, it can help lower communication barriers. You might not be able to talk about your breast cancer challenges with everyone in your life because some people might not be ready to cope with your stress. Gradually, you can gauge which people can listen to you and share their feelings. Some of your loved ones may be good listeners, while others might want to provide practical help, and others still might come with you to your appointments for moral support during difficult times. 6. Try Journaling For many people, writing is therapeutic. Putting your thoughts into words can feel empowering, and reading what you've written down can help as well. Journaling can be an effective way to express your private thoughts without judgment. Seeing how your thoughts and anxieties change over time can also help. Looking back at positive thoughts and feelings can be empowering. Looking back at negative thoughts and feelings that have improved over time can also be empowering as you can begin to see that most feelings—including sadness, anxiety, and stress—do not last forever. 7. Focus on Creative Outlets Creative outlets can provide comfort, peace, and excitement. Drawing, painting, playing music, dancing, singing, or writing stories often give people an opportunity to express themselves and practice their talents and skills without a deadline. Consider whether you have creative hobbies that make you happy and provide a sense of calm. Think about carving out some time to do these things alone or with others. You can even improve your skills by taking a class. 8. Explore Complementary Therapies Complementary therapies are used in addition to medical treatment. A number of different complementary therapies can help you improve your symptoms of anxiety or depression when you are living with metastatic breast cancer. You can decide which options are a good fit for you. Complementary treatments for managing breast cancer anxiety and depression include: Check with your oncologist (cancer specialist) to see if any of these otherwise safe interventions might be unsafe for you. For example, some herbal remedies may interact with other medications you are taking. 9. Find a Therapist or Counselor Talking to a therapist can be an important step in adjusting to your feelings while you're coping with metastatic breast cancer. While friends or support group peers can offer you camaraderie and community, a trained therapist can listen to you with an outside perspective and without judgment. You can talk to a professional and express your fears and anxieties, knowing that your private conversations won't be part of your family life or social life. A counselor or therapist can provide you with helpful guidance based on their experience and education and can help you decide which coping strategies could benefit you most. 10. Discuss Medications With Your Doctor For some people who have metastatic breast cancer, medication is an important part of managing anxiety or depression. Discussing medications with your doctor can be helpful as you consider whether treatment is right for you. Keep in mind that you can try medication for managing mental health symptoms and then decide whether it is helping. Starting medication does not have to mean a permanent commitment to taking medication. Many people feel much better with medication and use it for a short period of time, while others benefit from continuing medication for many years. When to Consult a Healthcare Provider If you feel sad, stressed, or anxious, can't sleep, have appetite changes, or just don't feel like yourself anymore, talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms. Dealing with a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis is stressful—and reaching out for help with your mental health is an important part of your overall medical care. You might want to work with a professional for a short period of time, or you may decide to continue even after you have recovered from breast cancer. Where to Find Support Online You can find support online, including breast cancer support groups and therapists. Some helpful resources include: Summary Metastatic breast cancer can cause or contribute to anxiety or depression. You can consider many different therapies and approaches to manage your symptoms. Be kind to yourself and seek support from friends, family, healthcare providers, or support groups so you don't have to cope alone.
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