A cancer diagnosis is life-altering, and living with cancer can cause feelings of fear, sadness, nervousness and uncertainty, and a sense of being overwhelmed.

At Norton Cancer Institute, the health care team understands that patients need both leading-edge medical care and support for their mental and emotional health needs. The complexities of treatment can contribute to patients’ further uncertainty regarding how well they may tolerate treatment and what their prognosis may be. Coping with this news can seem daunting.

We understand a significant number of cancer patients will experience difficulty with adjustment, difficulty with anxiety and even feelings of depression.

To meet the emotional and psychological health needs of patients, Norton Cancer Institute Comprehensive Support Care includes a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including psychiatric advanced practice providers, licensed clinical social workers, music and art expressive therapists, nutritionists, massage therapists, and nurse navigators.

Related: If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, here are questions to ask

Cancer is an illness that impacts each individual differently. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the compassion and care. Just as we deliver individualized medicine, we deliver individualized care to ensure we meet the needs of the whole person. We know that cancer can be all-encompassing.

As patients begin treatment at Norton Cancer Institute, all are screened to see who might benefit from specialized mental health services. Norton Cancer Institute Behavioral Oncology Program providers work collaboratively with the medical team to determine the needs of each patient and their caregivers. The program offers individual and group therapy and brief caregiving interventions. When appropriate, medications may be prescribed to treat a variety of mental health issues and enhance quality of life.

RELATED: Mental health is as important as physical health. If you need mental health help, here are some things you should know.

Our primary goal is to ensure that individuals going through a cancer journey have the resources available to them to meet the demands of the illness with as much grace and dignity as possible. We want to help patients adapt to a new normal, leverage their personal strengths and enhance their ability to deal with whatever challenges the illness may bring.

We know that each individual brings different perspectives, life experiences and resources, and varying capacities to cope with a cancer journey. We want to ease the burden that cancer can bring by connecting individuals to resources to enhance the sources and types of psychological support available. As psychosocial oncology care providers, we are here to help manage the human side of cancer.

Elizabeth M. Archer-Nanda, DNP, APRN, is an advanced practice psychiatric provider and leads the Behavioral Oncology Program within Norton Cancer Institute’s Comprehensive Support Care.

The post Cancer care for the whole person includes emotional health appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

I see that for many of my patients, however, the most difficult time may be after active treatment ends and it is time to return to “normal” life.

A recent study has shown that mental health diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, and neurocognitive and sexual dysfunction, may be more common in breast cancer survivors more than one year after their diagosis compared with women with no prior cancer.

It can be difficult after spending so much time actively doing something to fight the cancer to transition into the follow-up phase. This can be especially difficult when patients don’t feel or look like their normal selves. After surgery, radiation and sometimes chemotherapy treatments, there can be lingering physical effects like fatigue or pain that are barriers to returning to social and family life or the workplace. Also, mental and emotional symptoms such as brain fog, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance and apprehension about social interactions also can persist.  Certain medications used to treat breast cancer, such as hormone-blocking treatments, also may affect the mood. It is important to discuss your mood with your health care provider, as there may be other options or treatments available that could help.

Returning to a new normal can be challenging and take time. Seeking mental health care can be extremely helpful during this time to understand that this is a common experience and to help create strategies to cope with these challenges, set reasonable expectations and celebrate progress.

The fear of a cancer recurrence also can come during this time. After a cancer diagnosis, any physical symptom — even a cough or minor pain —  can trigger the fear of a cancer recurrence. It is important to notify your doctor of any new concerning physical complaints. However, sometimes the fear or recurrence can be out of proportion to the physical complaint or thoughts become intrusive or distressing. Working with a mental health professional can help break negative thought patterns.

Benefits of seeking help from a mental health professional | Connection between mental health and physical health

I believe that it is as important to address mental and emotional health as it is to address physical health. There is a strong connection between physical and the mental health. In fact, studies have suggested that addressing depressive symptoms may improve outcomes for patients with breast cancer.

Seeking professional support can be extremely helpful during these times. For some people this can mean counseling, and others may also benefit from medication.

Related Content: New guidelines recommend genetic testing for more patients with breast cancer risk

Also: Science and empathy: Dr. Agrawal mixes leading-edge cancer care with the human side of healing

What is behavioral oncology?

At Norton Cancer Institute, the Behavioral Oncology Program consists of mental health providers who focus on patients with a cancer diagnosis. They help patients address their emotional needs, develop coping mechanisms to deal with medical treatments and help adjust to the changes in their lifestyle caused by the cancer diagnosis.

Some patients diagnosed with breast cancer may have young children, and talking to kids about a parent’s cancer diagnosis is difficult. A behavioral oncology provider can provide support and assistance in talking to kids of different ages about a cancer diagnosis and responding to their emotional needs.

RELATED: Mental health is as important as physical health. If you need mental health help, here are some things you should know.

More resources for people going through breast cancer

For some, support groups or social media connections can provide a community of people who may understand what they are going through. For others, it can be overwhelming to hear other’s stories about breast cancer. If you recognize that, it’s OK to take a step back.

Many find solace in turning to faith-based support.

Exercise is an important way to help both the physical and emotional recovery. For example, yoga has been shown to improve the mood, reduce pain and improve sleep in breast cancer patients. Other resources such as massage therapy, acupuncture and music therapy can be very helpful for both physical and emotional symptoms.

Mental health concerns and resources for the family

The person diagnosed with cancer may not be the only one who could benefit from mental health support. A spouse or loved one also may experience severe emotional distress, anxiety or depression associated with the diagnosis. Support services are also available for the loved ones of a person diagnosed with cancer.

While a diagnosis of cancer can be scary and distressing, there are many resources for both the patient and family to help guide them through their treatment and beyond.

Laila S. Agrawal, M.D., is a hematologist and oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute.

The post A breast cancer diagnosis can have a lingering impact on mental health for some appeared first on Norton Healthcare.