Being sick can take a physical and mental toll. It’s common to struggle with depression if you can’t do things you enjoy. When your quality of life’s affected by illness, it can be challenging to stay positive.
Keeping your spirits up can affect your prognosis, however. Cancer patients can reduce their time in hospitals by maintaining their mental health. While it’s not possible to cure bipolar disorder, patients can improve their outlook by receiving treatment for mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Cancer patients can also improve their mental outlook by engaging in activities that help them keep their spirits up while receiving cancer treatments such as immunotherapy. Read on to learn about cancer, immunotherapy, and how to stay positive during treatment.
What is cancer?
Abnormal cell growth in the body causes cancer. Cancer can affect people of any age, race, or gender. The multiple types of cancer include blood cancers, breast cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and kidney cancer. Cancer cells may grow and form a tumor. When cancer metastasizes, some cancer cells break off from the primary cancer source and move throughout the body via the lymph system or bloodstream. These cells form a new tumor.
What is immunotherapy?
Your body’s immune system fights infections and diseases. Sometimes, the immune system doesn’t recognize or target cancerous cells. When this occurs, cancer immunotherapy treatment can prompt your immune system to fight the cancer cells. Types of immunotherapy include T-cell transfer therapy, immune system modulators, and monoclonal antibodies.
Self-care can boost your spirits during treatment.
Self-care involves doing things that preserve your health. Self-care includes things like taking time to rest. Taking time for yourself and absolving yourself of guilt is crucial. Even when you’re sick, you may feel pressure to work and care for others, but you won’t be able to do that or overcome your illness if you don’t take care of yourself.
Ways you can invest in your self-care include yoga, meditation, dancing, reading, and getting a massage.
Looking your best can help you feel great.
Your mental health can be negatively affected by a poor body image. During cancer treatment, your hair may thin or fall out, which can make you self-conscious. Boost your spirits by investing in a professional wig to replace lost hair or learning how to tie hair wraps.
You may be frustrated with your skin tone because chemotherapy can cause rashes and dry skin. Improve your skin tone with tinted moisturizers and makeup.
You may notice lines and blemishes on your nails after starting chemotherapy. You can conceal these imperfections by applying stick on nail polish over your nails. These manicures can be completed at home and only take a few minutes. Stick-on gels are customized to fit your nails, and you can order them in an assortment of colors and styles. Apply rainbows, flowers, or solid colors to your nails to freshen your look.
Talking to a therapist can help you manage mental health challenges.
Cancer therapists can help you work through your feelings during your treatment. Talk therapy offers a constructive outlet for your feelings and fears. Your therapist can help you identify effective coping strategies and things you can do to maintain a positive outlook and manage your mental health.
Social interaction can help you stay positive.
It’s natural to feel tired and discouraged while you’re receiving immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or other types of cancer treatments. Although you may not have your typical amount of energy, make an effort to interact with friends and family members when possible.
Use Zoom or Skype to have video chats to reduce your exposure to viruses. Thanks to technology, it’s possible to stay in touch with your writing group, book club, or other social circles. You can interact from the comfort of your bed or couch and eliminate the time it takes to drive to visit in person, while still benefiting from the social interaction.
It can be challenging to stay positive when you’re receiving cancer immunotherapy treatment. Self-care activities, improving your physical appearance, therapy, and social interaction can boost your spirits and help you stay positive.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Health category
Leave a Reply