Psychology & breast cancer in 4 phases

The experience of cancer deeply affects a woman's psyche. The perception of oneself, the world, the people changes, while at the same time existential issues emerge that mainly concern the meaning of life and death. 

 

Women with breast cancer often feel the need to take stock, redefine and give meaning to what is happening to them. The changes that occur cause insecurity and a sense of loss of interest of the persons concerned. The woman is called to organize her life from the beginning and to rebuild her friendly and family relationships, facing sometimes positive and sometimes disappointing reactions from people. 

The 4 phases 

1. The phase that discovers a change or symptom in her body

In the first phase the woman begins to notice some symptoms, such as swelling in the chest and pain. Every woman's reactions range from full activation (examinations, doctor's visit), to complete rejection, denial and avoidance of any action. For example, they may think "It's nothing, it will pass me by", or attribute the symptom to some irrelevant cause, or they may even be sure that they have cancer and find it futile to deal with it further. Many women avoid acting for fear of being diagnosed. The way each woman reacts will significantly determine the subsequent development. Women who neglect it tend to experience more anxiety, fear and guilt. They are also more likely to experience depression,

2. The phase of diagnosis

The diagnosis phase is the most difficult time for the woman. Although the woman suspects that something is happening, until the moment of diagnosis she hopes that in the end it will not be something serious. From that moment on, the woman is called to redefine her life and make important decisions about how to move. And in this phase the emotional reactions of every woman range from complete composure to intense and uncontrollable mental upset. The dominant emotions that a woman experiences are fear, despair and anxiety.

3. The treatment phase 

The treatment phase consists of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy and is adjusted according to the case of each woman. At this stage, most women gradually enter a more stable emotional state. However, this phase takes a long time and requires a lot of adaptation efforts. The woman is faced with unwanted side effects and changes in her appearance. She sees herself in the mirror changed and her organic condition is affected by the drugs. The predominant emotions at this stage are a feeling of helplessness, anger and a need to withdraw.

4. The chronic phase that extends from healing to the end of her life

The last and chronic phase is distinguished by a recession of emotions and hope is rekindled. The woman begins to see the situation with more optimism and her expectations are more positive. However, fear still exists and in fact never ceases to exist.

Some women are aware of their feelings from the beginning, but they prefer not to externalize them, believing that in this way they protect their loved ones. Others insist on ignoring their feelings, making them more difficult to adjust to. Adjustment difficulties increase when a total mastectomy is performed and chemotherapy is necessary. In women where it is possible to maintain the breast, the adjustment is easier, as the deformity is not large.

 

A significant difficulty that a woman faces concerns her psychosocial adjustment. Family and friendships are disrupted and altered. Some relationships are characterized by a tendency to approach, while others by a tendency to distance. The woman is likely to be isolated, as those close to her experience an ambivalence about how they need to support her. On the one hand they are sad and on the other they want to maintain an optimistic attitude towards it. This ambivalence and especially their embarrassment about what to say to her, leads them to distance themselves and avoid contact with her, which makes the woman conclude that they do not understand her or are not interested in her.

 

The whole family system is affected, as significant changes need to be made in practical matters and an adjustment of roles. The woman is faced with dilemmas regarding the information of her children, especially when they are minors. This issue needs to be handled very carefully. Many women choose to hide the situation, but this actually only serves them and not the children as they get out of this awkward position. Hiding the truth can shake children's confidence, as they realize that something is happening (children will hear something being discussed), and they are more likely to feel that things are very serious and that is why they are hiding it from them. They feel helpless, terrified and try to understand what is happening. It is therefore important that they are informed and given the opportunity to discuss anything that concerns them. There is a way to be properly informed depending on their age and maturity.

 

Finally, the disease can create problems in the couple's relationship, especially if there are unresolved issues. A woman undergoing mastectomy is more likely to experience fear of abandonment and tends to interpret her husband's removal as rejection. If the relationship between them is deep, supportive and stable they cope and adapt better. However, even in this case it is not excluded that they are temporarily removed, each taking the space and time needed to adapt to the new reality, but they soon get over it. In addition, the couple's sex life is significantly affected, as the woman initially has no sexual mood and then is likely to feel that she is no longer sexually desirable. Her femininity and confidence are collapsing.

 

It is important for women to recognize their difficulties and seek support either from those close to them or from a mental health professional. Individual and group psychotherapy significantly help women to cope and deal effectively with the situation, both emotionally and cognitively, as well as practically.