How Does Breast Cancer Affect a Person’s Daily Life
Being diagnosed with breast cancer – no matter the stage – it will change your life to a great extent. There will be challenges which you couldn’t have anticipated – phases of frustration, constantly feeling tired, complaining of unknown pain, medications which make you feel sour, and so on. But, there will be positive changes as well. A survey conducted by one of the leading breast cancer study center proves that women who go through the tough breast cancer treatment also experience what’s today termed as “post-traumatic growth.” In other words, it means cancer completely chances the way you live your life – in both, bad and good ways.
While every woman’s experience is different from the other, there are certain changes which are nearly universal. Knowing the kind of changes you and your body will go through can significantly help you in coping with the disease just a bit more easily.
Emotional Adjustments and Stages
One of the most common phases of breast cancer is going through emotional adjustments, especially after it’s diagnosed. Most women start to adopt a new physical sense of themselves and their emotional vulnerability increase manifold. They usually feel betrayed by their own body and lose themselves in the sense that they won’t survive for long.
Here, physicians and oncologists suggest that women diagnosed with breast cancer must give themselves some time to process the prognosis, move towards acceptance, and get ready to fight the battle. Being optimistic is the key to surviving through the treatment and winning the battle. However, those carrying a pessimistic attitude lose themselves to the disease, even before it’s too late.
Changes in Your Appearance
Your appearance changes during a breast cancer treatment. Your breasts are definitely an important part of your identity. However, a surgery can affect their appearance and also result in some scars, change in their shape, or even loss of one or both breasts, depending upon the severity of your condition
A study conducted on a lumpectomy patient at one of the renowned universities of the United States of America, it was found that a significant loss of symmetry typically increases the fear of its recurrence and hence, triggers depression amid patients. However, the fact is that you can get your breast reconstructed, or even get a breast prosthesis done.
If you go through a chemotherapy, there are possibilities that you’ll experience severe hair and weight loss. Wigs, scarves, and hats can smartly help you in hiding hair loss. Some women can also try a preventive scalp cooling cap.
Physical Challenges
A breast cancer treatment causes certain temporary physical changes. For instance, if you’re going through radiation, you can expect some changes in the appearance of your skin exposed to the radiation rays, feel more tired than often and even witness swelling in the treated area. Some over-the-counter medications and ointments can help you to cope up with such symptoms.
Chemotherapy, on the other hand, leaves an impact on the entire body … Read More..