Dubai: Breast cancer patients need help to deal with feelings of isolation, stress, anxiety and related emotional changes.
Such overlooked facets of breast cancer care are being shared this October, the month dedicated globally to raising awareness about the disease.
In the fight against breast cancer, supportive care in the form of counselling and support groups is integral to help a patient manage the emotional and social effects of breast cancer.
In Dubai, several support groups like Brest Friends, Tickled Pink Paddles Dubai, Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), Safe and Sound, Pure Heart Program, among others, connect patients. A few support groups affiliated with hospitals exist too.
Medical specialists believe breast cancer patients need a multi-disciplinary approach to manage breast cancer, which has physical as well as psychosocial effects.
According to the US-based study Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs, symptoms experienced by cancer patients include feelings of depression, adjustment disorders, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), guilt, loss of control, anger, sadness, confusion, fear of recurrence, concerns about body image and diminished self-esteem.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Shaheena Dawood, Senior Oncologist at Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said, “A person with a sound well-being can cope better with the feelings of depression and anxiety associated with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Emotional well-being is integral in cancer treatment hence psychosocial support is needed for quality cancer care.”
Research also suggests that psychological and social effects can impact the patient negatively. If these aspects are not treated, patients are less likely to be consistent with the cancer medication and treatment.
Support is important to help patients cope better, reiterated Dr Zahrah Rafaei, a specialist plastic surgeon in breast reconstruction, from Rashid Hospital.
She said, “Though the psychological stress varies due to factors like time of diagnosis, prognosis, level of pain and other variables, meeting counsellors, survivors and other patients can help in the process of care.”
Local support group Pure Heart Program helps cancer patients through counselling and facilitating job interviews for those who require employment support.
Rana Al Khatib, one of the spokespersons of the Pure Heart Program, told Gulf News that after diagnosis, patients are in need of different kinds and levels of support.
“Even those who have been battled cancer more than once need an environment where they discuss and share their experience and seek support. In Western countries support groups are the norm,” she said.
