PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY AND ITS TREMENDOUS EFFECT ON CANCER TREATMENT

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Undoubtedly, one of the most significant obstacles facing medical science today is the treatment of cancer. Even though this fatal disease has been studied by highly qualified medical professionals since it was first discovered, it still terrifies us in this day and age of advanced civilization. Technological improvements, updated medical facilities outfitted with the newest tools, and the most potent drugs available, yet the "cure for cancer" still seems like a far-fetched plan.

It is surprising to know that what usually contributes to the death of cells in cancer are largely environmental factors. Yes, you read that right. 95% of environmental factors have been identified as critical in the development of cancer, outweighing genetic elements. To prevent diseases like these from developing in our bodies and, let's face it, maintaining an ideal body image, the majority of us follow stringent guidelines for our physical health. While exercising vigorously for thirty minutes each day may make us feel good about taking care of ourselves, is it actually that beneficial? You'll be shocked to hear that there are a lot of simpler techniques that yield considerably more benefits than the repetitive and demanding workouts that most of us dislike. Not able to believe what I said? Recent research will compel you to conclude that developing healthy eating and exercise habits is not as important to human well-being as habits and patterns in our lifestyle. Among the simplest techniques with the greatest advantages and the least amount of effort are body acceptance and mindful eating! ‘Smart-work,’ isn’t it? Some simple measures like living in a routine manner, choosing the stairs as opposed to the elevator and walking your way to local locations are enough to keep you healthy and ‘good-to-go’!

I suppose this warm-up information has given you a brief idea of cancer and its association with environmental factors. We know that psychotherapy is essential for the development of self and enhancement of our perception of the surrounding environment. The prevalence rates of many mental illnesses are fairly higher in cancer patients than in the general population. For instance, adjustment disorders: forty-times more, post-traumatic stress disorder: two-times more, depressive disorders: three-times more, and suicidal tendency is about two-times as high. If this data fails to convince you how important psychotherapy is for cancer patients, let’s understand in an engaging and factual manner to support this claim. 

While there is no direct correlation between depression, personality and cancer getting worse or better, there is a correlation between mental health and substance use. For example: bipolar disorder has 70% substance use rates (nicotine). With the help of therapy, if substance use is stopped by around the age of 30, we experience an increase of 9 years in life expectancy and when stopped around age 60, we get around 3 years more to live. Astonishing, isn’t it? It explains how psychosocial factors are important even though patients don’t directly develop worsened cancer. Many of us are not aware that our cognitive and emotional processes, personality and social factors, all contribute to the experience of pain for a cancer patient. Therapy works as a medium for inducing hopefulness and will-power in patients to revise their perception into a more positive form and give them the emotional strength to keep going. Hence, during treatment, both biological and psychological factors are necessary for diagnosis. Relaxation and mindfulness techniques have astounding effects on improvement in the patient’s condition. For instance, patients experience agitation, stress and nausea while entering the room for chemotherapy. Progressive muscle relaxation, systematic decentralisation signal the higher functioning of the brain, which proceeds to signal the medulla (lowest part of the brain stem that connects to the spinal cord, essential to controlling sensations) to reduce nausea. Being relaxed and stressed at the same time is impossible, so, in stressful situations, patients are trained to practise these relaxation techniques. It is possible that fatigue is the most painful and distressing part for cancer patients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness acceptance, behavioural planning, all mediate in addressing fatigue and decreasing its effect. Many drugs like steroids, antiemetics and chemotherapy agents are notorious for causing a lot of emotional difficulties in patients. Only trained practitioners in the field could rule out these possibilities and compile an effective therapy program. It would be incorrect to call such programs mere “counselling” since they fall under a broader scope of cancer and rehabilitation treatment.

I’d suggest you fasten your seat-belts for this upcoming, mind-boggling information. Studies have shown that psychotherapy has a robust effect on cancer treatment. 80% of cancer patients who go through therapy have better chances than the general patients! This means if you treat three people with psychotherapy, pretty confidently one of them is going through benefit. While the number needed for well-established medical treatment is about 7 and for antibiotics and sinusitis, is about 19.

According to Dr. Brindha Sitaram (Group Head, psycho-oncology, HCG Cancer Centre, Bangalore) ‘emotional well-being’ is considered the 6th most vital sign to check in cancer patients. The established guidelines state: screening for emotional well-being and psycho-oncology services are mandatory procedures in mainstream cancer care. While the data suggests that 75% of cancer patients suffer through distress and require emotional support and help, 92% of Indian cancer patients who were screened for emotional well-being, reported to be facing emotional challenges in life. She stated that there are only 20-25 well-trained and established psycho-oncologists across the country (data from 2021). Although this might seem disheartening to most of us, the silver lining suggests how awareness about psycho-oncology is spreading and hospitals are demanding more trained professionals in the field for better treatment of cancer patients.

It is evident how important it is for people to be aware of this concept of psycho oncology and its vigorous impact on cancer treatment. Stigma is the core factor associated with lack of knowledge about this concept, when people should realise that therapy is economically, mentally and physically one of the most beneficial treatment methods for cancer. Rather than spending chunks of hard-earned money on medications, antibiotics and aimless hope, it is obvious that paying heed to mental health in that state will increase your chances to healthy development and cancer-free living. The inclusion of psychology in the oncology department should be made mandatory to cut off ties from stigma and promote a declining graph in future cancer rates of the global population.

About the Author:

Ishita Jain is your ideal person to approach for a party-planning or sketching spree. She loves clicking random pictures and painting them later, trying different types of tea (of course her favourite is lemon!) and travelling to encounter the best sunsets she ever will. Her interest in writing heartfelt poems grew into compiling brief articles and contemplating on ideas to broaden her horizon. Sociological literature gets her ‘worked up’ and her best days include a hot tub and good food with friends! The “lalas” in Gilmore Girls can calm her down despite how strenuous the moment might be.

References:

HCG Oncology. (2021, February 28). Know it to Beat It_Psycho Oncology_HCG Cancer Centre Bengaluru [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlsLhbqHqI

Mary Greeley Medical Center. (2018, February 23). Integrating Psycho-Oncology in Cancer Care: Updates and Best Practices  2/21/18 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gky_o8gaOw

University of Brighton. (2019, November 28). How psycho-oncology research helps patients with cancer [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLFRaxDwLGI

What is Psychosocial Oncology? | APOS. (n.d.). https://apos-society.org/professionals/what-is-psychosocial-oncology/


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