Nurture Mental Health During The Fight Against Cancer

Did you know April is Cancer Control Month? It’s true, it’s true, and in honor of that we bloggers here at the b5media Health & Wellness Channel have decided this month’s theme day should focus on cancer.

Rather than try to choose just one topic pertaining to cancer and mental health – or going the obvious route of “How Cancer Affects Your Mental Health,” which would, I think, lead to quite a generic post as the topic is so vast – I thought it’d be more beneficial to point out several different resources that deal with cancer and mental health.

After all, cancer can strike anyone at anytime, regardless of age, gender, or race.

Children and Cancer: If you have a child with cancer, you may want to check out the National Cancer Institutes’s Young People With Cancer: A Handbook For Parents. Not only does this handbook explain physical aspects of cancer such as treatment options, side effects, and other health problems that may arise, but it also helps you explain cancer to your child as well as what to expect when the cancer isn’t curable.

And, when you have a child with cancer you’ll undoubtedly want to share stories with other parents so that everyone can learn from one another and no one will feel as if s/he is alone. One such story is that of Jennifer Phelan and how she dealt with her seven-year-old daughter’s cancer diagnosis and eventual death: When A Child Is Dying. I think it’s a beneficial read for all parents of children with cancer, terminal or not.

Other great resources for information about children’s cancer and how to help your child understand and deal with cancer, as well as continue enjoying all the fun of being a kid, include the Children’s Cancer Association, the National Children’s Cancer Society, the Children’s Cancer Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Cancer Kids.

Women and Cancer: There are a plethora of Web sites and organizations of interest for women with cancer, including the Women’s Cancer Network, the Women’s Cancer Information Center, and the Women & Cancer Magazine. Among these resources you’ll find information about cancers specific to women, current treatment options, important nutritional needs, and inspirational stories from gals just like you.

Now, I’m a big fan of Desperate Housewives, and I couldn’t pass up sharing this article I found during my research for resources related to women’s mental health and cancer: Meeting Sexuality Needs of Women With Breast Cancer. It immediately made me think of Felicity Huffman’s character, Lynette Scavo, and her struggle with her husband to find some kind of sexual balance amidst her battle with cancer. I think the information in this article/interview pertains to women who are battling any kind of cancer, and let’s face it: Being diagnosed with cancer and fighting the battle is a hard enough blow to your mental well being; discovering that you no longer feel feminine, sexy, or desirable is extra salt on the wound for some ladies.

Men and Cancer: At the risk of sounding sexist (and I may have already blown it with my thoughts on women, sexiness, and cancer), many men generally like to feel strong, in control, and as if they can handle anything and handle it preferably without the help of others. (Well, don’t they? I have a dad, I’ve been married, and I have male friends – in the words of William Miller’s mother Elaine in my favorite movie of all time, Almost Famous, “I know what’s going on.”) More importantly, many men don’t like to feel scared. It’s OK – none of us do. Being diagnosed with and facing a battle against any illness, including cancer, is a scary situation. Fear, helplessness, anger – they’re all sure to wreak havoc on your mental well being.

It’s important for men to understand that there is support and help out there, and that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with seeking it. Any cancer-specific organization can help you learn more about your specific cancer; the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute are good places to start. However, for Web sites and organizations that offer more personal support groups and online forums, try Malecare, Us TOO, and TC-Cancer.

As you can see, there are numerous resources out there for you whether you are a man or woman with cancer or the parent of a child with cancer. Educating yourself and finding support are two key ways to keep your mental health intact during trying times, and I sincerely hope any of these Web sites and organization will help get you started.

For the official list of all b5media Health & Wellness theme day posts, visit Marijke Durning’s Help My Hurt post Living with Cancer: Help My Hurt hosts this month’s Theme Day.

Image sources and credits here, here, here, and here.