In this article, we will explain why it is so important to psychological support for family members of patients diagnosed with cancer. Read on:

Insecurity, suffering, fear and uncertainty are some of the feelings that may go through the mind of a person who receives the diagnosis of cancer. But, not only the patient suffers with these types of thoughts, but also all his family and friends may suffer with the illness of a loved one.

In this context, we will show the importance of psychological support for family members of patients diagnosed with cancer. Follow along:

THE MOMENT OF KNOWING THE DIAGNOSIS

Despite all the advances in medicine along with diagnosis and treatment against cancer, the moment one learns of the disease can often cause a very negative psychological impact on the patient and also on their family member.

This occurs because cancer is a disease that has many stigmas, that is, as in the past there were no effective treatments, upon receiving the diagnosis, the person felt he was receiving a death sentence.

However, even today, even though it is considered a chronic disease, the possibility of death usually haunts the patient and their family throughout the treatment.

EMOTIONAL IMBALANCE

In addition, after being told that a family member is suffering from cancer it is common for an emotional imbalance to occur. Each family member will experience and notice the diagnosis of cancer in different ways. For, the human being is endowed with subjectivity and this directly influences his way of understanding the world around him. Aspects such as the degree of kinship and proximity to the patient also have relevance about the understanding of the severity of the diagnosis of cancer.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP FAMILY MEMBERS OF CANCER PATIENTS

Did you know that psychological support can also intervene preventively from the time cancer is diagnosed? It acts on the emotional reactions of cancer patients and their families, psycho-oncology can also intervene preventively, from the time of diagnosis.

By investigating how the individual understands the state of the disease and his beliefs about it and the treatment, the psychologist can analyse how these perceptions are interfering in the results of the treatment, intervening early, increasing the expectations of psychological and emotional recovery of the patient and his family.

It is the psychologist's role to assist the family in their emotional restructuring at this time. He may develop with the family members adaptive coping strategies on how to deal with the situation and with the patient, providing a positive contribution to the treatment.

There is no right or wrong approach to face cancer and its treatment, but psychology must be attentive to the different manifestations in the face of the new reality in order to act, when necessary, helping those involved to face the situation, maintaining the quality of life and promoting the health of both the cancer patient and his family.

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