Stress management during cancer treatment

A diagnosis of cancer is a life-changing event, one that brings significant change and stress. Many aspects of your life will be affected and need to be considered at once, including considerations of finances, work, child-minding and relationships, as well as the physical demands and side-effects of the cancer treatment itself. ¹

Having a plan that can help reduce and manage stress will enable you to more effectively cope during your cancer treatment. ⁴

Below are a list of tools and strategies that may be helpful in managing your stress during treatment.

Depending on your type of cancer and treatment, you may want to consider how your finances will be impacted during this time. For example: ³

• Will you need to take time off work for treatment?
• How much will your tests and medications cost? Do you have health insurance that will cover this?
• Are there other sources of income available to you, such as benefits?
• Do you have a budget in place to help manage income and expenses?
• Have you set up automatic direct debits to manage routine bills?

Asking your specialist team about your treatment options and side-effects will help you manage your expectations, as well as help you feel more in control of the decisions you are making around your treatment. Don’t be afraid to get second opinions, and talk your decisions through with your friends and family as well. ⁵

It is important to allow your friends and family to help you during this time and they will appreciate being able to help, and to feel needed. Some things they could do to help include: ⁶

• Going with you to your treatments and specialist appointments
• Helping with household chores (i.e. cooking, cleaning)
• Running errands – such supermarket shopping and ensuring routine bills are paid on time
• Looking after children or doing school pick-ups and drop-offs
• Being a point of contact for information to other family and friends on your behalf
• Being there to talk and offer emotional support
• Be your exercise buddy

Complementary therapies are commonly used by people undergoing cancer treatment to help manage side-effects and stress, however before commencing any complementary therapy, you should discuss this will your specialist or care team. ¹⁶

Complementary therapies such as meditation, relaxation techniques and counselling can provide emotional and physical support, as well as relieve side-effects from treatment and restore a sense of balance and control over your life. ⁷

Cancer treatments are designed to destroy cancer cells; however they can also destroy healthy cells, causing side-effects (such as nausea, vomiting, mouth ulcers, difficulty swallowing as well as diarrhoea and constipation) which can impact on your ability and willingness to eat and drink. ¹¹

Eating a balanced diet will not only help you manage stress during your treatment, it will also: ¹¹

• Help repair damaged cells and tissue from treatment
• Improves immune function and assists your body in fighting infection
• Assists in weight management and prevents malnutrition
• Helps to manage some side-effects of treatment

Tips to eating a balanced diet include:

• Choose foods from a variety of food groups
• Eat small and frequent meals to help with digestion as well as increasing your calorie intakes

Exercise has many benefits (including stress-reduction) for people with cancer. It is recommended you should participate in physical activity before, during and after your cancer treatments.

It is important that you speak to a specialist, such as an accredited physiotherapist or physiologist so that your exercise program can be tailored to your current level of fitness, whilst accommodating for your type of cancer, prognosis and any adverse effects you may be experiencing from your current treatments.⁹

Getting enough, regular sleep each night will allow your body to cope with your cancer treatment and associated stress better. Things that can help you achieve adequate sleep include: ¹⁰

• Going to bed at a regular time each night
• Ensuring you have a dark, quiet place to sleep, away from lights, phones and other devices.
• Exercise regularly
• Don’t eat too late at night, as it can cause stomach discomfort and prevent you falling asleep
• Try to avoid caffeine from early afternoon, such as tea, coffee or cola drinks. Caffeine takes a long time to process in the body, which means its’ effects can be long-lasting.