By Alpa Dharamshi
A cancer diagnosis changes lives. Feelings of shock, fear and uncertainty can overwhelm not only the patient but their entire family. A patient may react strongly to changes in the body, feel anxious about treatment and its results.
Cancer can stir up many deeply personal issues such as spirituality, sexuality and relationships. Difficult decisions about finances, mortgages, pensions, making a will etc. may demand attention of an already stressed patient.
Talking can be difficult but it is an important step forward. Talking to a counsellor can help remove the myths and stigma attached to cancer and its treatment.
Counselling can help with
- Coping with emotional reactions
- Family and relationship issues
- Orienting to deal with practical issues
A counsellor introduces different ways of coping that had not occurred to the patient or caregivers before. Since the sessions are purely confidential the person can open up with confidence.
There is no evidence to prove that counselling cures any disease nor that it can prolong life. But there is a lot of evidence that counselling can help to cope with many difficulties a patient faces during and after cancer diagnosis and treatment. It CAN reduce stress and improve the quality of life of Cancer patients and their caregivers.
Alpa Dharamshi
Multilingual Counsellor
