Emotional Stages of Breast Cancer During Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival

When your primary treatment ends, you shake hands with your oncologist and wave goodbye to your nurses. What happens next? You may still be taking hormone therapy and going for follow-up visits, but how are you feeling now? Survivorship has its own collection of emotions, which you can get help with. Good communication with your health care team can help you move forward.

• Fear of Recurrence – "Will my cancer return?" "Will it spread?"
• Feeling Vulnerable – "I’m done with treatment. How do I guard my health?"
• Fear of Pain - "I have a headache/abdominal pain/skin rash -- is it my old enemy, breast cancer?"
• Fear of Death – "My family needs me. I’m not prepared for this."

More About Depression and Breast Cancer

A National Academy of Sciences study found that depression is common in breast cancer patients, and it usually develops in the first three months after diagnosis. They recommend that if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, you should get help as soon as possible. Let your health care team know that you’re experiencing stress or sadness, so they can suggest counseling and perhaps medication. The study also found those who were depressed before diagnosis will need extra help to recover from it. There are many safe and constructive emotional outlets you can try. With support from other survivors, family, friends, and your doctor, you can get through your breast cancer journey more easily.

_{Sources:
National Academy of Sciences. Meeting Psychosocial Needs of Women With Breast Cancer. Published: January 2004. PDF file, Report Brief.}

Psychosomatics (Journal) published by The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Anxiety, Emotional Suppression, and Psychological Distress Before and After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Published: February 2005.

On Death and Dying. Five Stages of Grief. Book by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Published: 1969.