Navigating the Emotional Toll of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer Awareness Month arrives every October to shine a spotlight on the second-most common cancer in women, which impacts 1 out of 8 women in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, in the U.S., in 2022, it is estimated that 287,850 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and about 15% will die from the disease. Another 51,400 cases of Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases will be diagnosed, which is a non-invasive condition that is sometimes, though not always, a precursor to breast cancer.
Qualicare’s home health care and senior care franchise partners understand the emotional toll of breast cancer on their clients and families. According to Psychology Today, since many women do not have a family history of breast cancer or any other risk factors, a cancer diagnosis can come as a horrifying surprise. This emotional pain impacts women’s physical health, in addition to mental well-being.
The American Cancer Society released a study in 2009 which shows that mortality rates of cancer patients were 26 times higher in patients who experienced depression, and 39 times higher in individuals with major depression. It is completely natural to experience overwhelming, sad, exhausting, and depressive feelings upon receiving a cancer diagnosis. But the ability to cope with these feelings could be the difference between life and death.

Breast cancer’s emotional toll

The initial diagnosis of breast cancer, causing feelings of shock and horror, is only part of the battle. Many women will face a lengthy treatment process, which causes turmoil in relationships, careers, and personal identity. Often women are tired all the time, making day-to-day life extremely difficult. Additionally, oftentimes women in the United States suffer from difficulty surrounding access to healthcare, and potential discrimination by insurance companies, especially if they have a lower socioeconomic status.
Race/ethnicity also plays into the emotional burden of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society’s 2022-2024 report states, “both Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women have higher mortality rates than White women despite lower incidence.” In fact, Black women are 40% more likely than White women to die of breast cancer. Asian/Pacific Islander Women have the lowest rates of mortality of breast cancer, and American Indian/Alaskan Native have much higher rates. These realities are added factors that increase the likelihood of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress in cancer patients.

Navigating the grief that comes with cancer

The physician Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s book On Death and Dying in 1969 offered the world a guide to navigating what she termed the “5 stages of grief.” These stages are characterized as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Breast cancer patients will experience these emotional states fluidly, and every individual is unique in how they experience grief.

As the years have gone by, psychologists, doctors, and other professionals have expanded upon ideas about the states of grief. Grief expert David Kessler expands on Kübler-Ross’s ideas about the stages of grief with a 6th stage, which is meaning-making. Though it can feel impossible during many of the phases of grief, the integration of an individual’s experience of cancer into an exploration of humanity is the stage of grief that ultimately leads to a renewed sense of well-being.

It is important to connect with other people who have cancer. It can feel extremely isolating to experience such a devastating illness. So, connecting with other grieving people, and learning how to connect with yourself, is vital to maintaining positive mental health, and making meaning out of a very difficult life experience.

Continue doing what makes you happy

Though the experience of a cancer diagnosis is a highly individualized process, and everyone responds differently to this difficult life event, experts have found similarities in what helps get people through the worst times. Continuing to practice hobbies that make you happy, continuing to connect with friends and loved ones, and doing other things that add to your overall contentment and happiness, can go a long way in helping a person heal. The presence of art, music, and creativity has also been found to help with overall well-being.

“I generally think of the grieving process as a time of transition and adjustment, and things that are related to positively adjusting to the loss are favorable,” writes Will Meek, Ph.D. in Real Stages of Grief.

Meek writes that staying physically healthy can be a major contributor to moving through grief. With breast cancer, staying healthy is a real challenge, so there should be an increased focus on lifestyle, nutrition, and physical movement. Additionally, acknowledging that your life has dramatically changed, and grieving the life you had before the breast cancer diagnosis is an important step.

“Time for loss and time for life” is another helpful way to process grief, which means that it’s important to delineate time for grief, and time for joy, love, and aliveness. It can be easy to either gloss over the emotional gravity of grief, or to fall into the pit of despair. So, making time for both is very important.

Another great way to add more joy and healing energy to life is time spent with animals. Therapy dogs can be a great option to help individuals with breast cancer. WebMD writes that studies show spending time with a dog can lower blood pressure, and lower levels of cortisol, which causes stress. Therapy dogs can lessen pain, and trigger the release of endorphins, and other feel-good hormones. Petting a dog also helps to improve sensory and motor skills, as walking with a dog on a leash can help with balance and coordination.

Healthy ways to de-stress

Every new difficult twist and turn in life comes with an opportunity to learn new, healthier, holistic ways to live. With a cancer diagnosis, life as we know it is upended. The website This is Living with Cancer writes about the many ways people with cancer can learn how to destress.

Intentional breathing practices, meditation, yoga and other energy practices are discussed in-depth in this article as a way to ground the body and mind. Mindfulness of the way you’re spending your time, of the thoughts that are going through your head, and the energy traveling through your body and surroundings, are important ways to de-stress. Simply living in the present, and facing each moment as it comes, can go a long way in creating a more healing, and meaningful life while navigating breast cancer.