Medically Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
From: webmd.com
Lower Your Stress
There’s plenty going on to cause stress. Maybe you feel uncertain about your future, the disease, or your finances. Your family members may be feeling it, too. Warning signs of stress include trouble sleeping, fatigue, body aches, pain, anxiety, irritability, tension, and headaches.
You’ll feel better mentally and physically if you can manage that stress. Try to keep a positive attitude. Accept that there are things you can’t control.
Be assertive instead of aggressive. Firmly state your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, combative, or passive.
Your body can fight stress better when you’re physically fit. So give your body the time and resources to recover. Exercise regularly. Eat well-balanced meals. Rest and sleep. Don’t rely on alcohol or drugs to reduce stress.
Relaxation Techniques
You can do a number of things. Deep breathing, muscle and mind relaxation, listening to music, and biofeedback can help.
Before you try any exercise, set aside a quiet spot that’s free of distractions. Get comfortable, too — sit or recline on a chair or sofa. Also try to block out worries and distracting thoughts.
Two-minute relaxation. Switch your thoughts to yourself and your breathing. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly.
Mentally scan your body. Notice areas that feel tense or cramped. Quickly loosen up these areas. Let go of as much tension as you can.
Rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion once or twice. (Stop any movements that cause pain.) Roll your shoulders forward and backward several times. Let all of your muscles relax completely.
Recall a pleasant thought for a few seconds. Take another deep breath and exhale slowly. You should feel relaxed.
Deep-breathing relaxation. Imagine a spot just below your belly button. Breathe into that spot and fill your belly with air. Let the air fill you from the belly up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every long, slow breath out, you should feel more relaxed.
Where to Get Help
Lots of professionals and groups can provide support to you or your family
Social workers are just one part of the caregiving team who can offer treatment in a compassionate setting. They can help you and your family talk about any concerns about your diagnosis, treatment, or personal situation.
They can provide education, counseling about lifestyle changes, and referrals to support groups. Your social worker can also help your family find a temporary place to stay near the hospital, provide information about community resources, and help you with other needs.
Individual counselors. You may feel more comfortable talking one-on-one with a counselor about your illness and its impact on your life and relationships.
Counseling services let you or your family members talk about concerns and come up with ways to sort them out. Plus, mental health care professionals can create a treatment plan to meet your specific needs and gain a sense of control over your life and your quality of life. If necessary, they might prescribe you medicine to treat depression.
Support groups may help you learn new ways of dealing with your illness. Sometimes, others who’ve been through similar experiences can explain things differently than your doctors do. And you’ll gain strength in knowing that you’re not facing this alone.
Remember that others may share information or experiences that don’t apply to you. So never replace your doctor’s medical advice with that given to you by another patient.
The American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program offers help to people with breast cancer. Trained volunteers who’ve had breast cancer themselves visit you at the doctor’s request to lend support. Call 800-227-2345 for more information.
A financial counselor can answer questions you may have about money issues related to your medical care.
Keep Track of Medical Information
Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor, nurse, or another health care professional to repeat any instructions or medical terms you don’t understand. They should always be available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Take notes at your appointments so you can remember what your doctor told you. If you can, bring a friend or family member to your appointments. They can help take notes and ask questions.
Ask your family and friends to help you sort through the information you receive.
Use the resources and support services offered by your hospital and in the community. Learning more about your disease will help you feel more comfortable with your treatment.
Talk with other patients and families about breast cancer and its treatments.
Legal Matters
You may want to make documents called advance directives, such as a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care.
Your living will gives clear instructions regarding whether you want treatment that artificially prolongs your life, like dialysis or a ventilator. This document is prepared while you’re able to make medical decisions. It’s used only if you become unable to make your own decisions later.
Your durable power of attorney for health care lets you appoint another person to speak for you if you can’t express what type of medical care you want.
No one likes to think about their own mortality, but everyone should have a will. It can ensure that those who survive you will know how to carry out your wishes. Prepare this document with your attorney.
Tips for Family and Friends
Feel free to ask the doctor questions if you go with your loved one to their appointments.
Be prepared for changes in your loved one’s behavior and mood. Medications, discomforts, and stress can make them depressed, angry, or fatigued.
Encourage them to be as active and independent as possible.
Be realistic about your own needs. Get enough sleep, eat right, and take some time off for yourself. It’s hard to offer much help when you’re exhausted. If you take care of your needs, it may be easier to meet the needs of your loved one.
Don’t hesitate to ask other family members and friends for help.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.