Psychological characteristics of cancer patients

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The mental state of the patient can have a big impact on the treatment process, so understanding the psychological characteristics of cancer patients plays an important role in cancer treatment.

1. Psychological characteristics of cancer patients

For many patients, being diagnosed with cancer carries a death sentence. When facing cancer, patients will experience psychological crises such as:
Fear of treatment or side effects of treatment. Fear of cancer recurrence or metastasis after treatment. Worry about uncertainty. Worried about losing self-control. Worry about changing relationships. Fear of death. Anxiety and fear can make coping with cancer treatment more difficult. It can also interfere with decision-making regarding your care and treatment. Therefore, recognizing and treating anxiety is an important part of cancer treatment.

2. Psychological development of cancer patients

2.1. Period of medical examination Many patients only think of cancer, and when they mention cancer, they panic and lose sleep and eat. Reading books and then acting on your symptoms, that's a vicious cycle of worry. Besides, many people are subjective, even though the disease has ulcerated, metastasized to the lymph nodes, it is too late to go to the doctor. The patient is both worried and hopeful that the treatment will have a good outcome.
2.2. The stage of diagnosis of mental illness when knowing that they have cancer is common in patients:
Shocked/distrustful. This reaction is sometimes so severe that nothing more can be said about the treatment plan. Denying the fact that I don't believe I'm sick. Frustration and Depression: Frustration can appear at any time after a cancer diagnosis. The patient may present with autonomic symptoms: Anorexia, insomnia, and psychotic symptoms such as frustration, loss of concentration, paranoia, guilt indicate deep frustration. In addition, patients may refuse treatment if they think death cannot be avoided. In this case, the patient needs to consult a psychiatrist for timely psychological counseling and treatment. 2.3. The initial stage of treatment Each cancer treatment regimen presents its own psychological challenges. Patients often worry because of fear of pain during surgery, fear of whether chemotherapy will cause hair loss, radiation therapy will cause hair loss?
Surgery: Common psychological states such as fear and anxiety due to the patient's fear of pain and fear of death or, less commonly, the change in body shape after surgery. Patients are also prone to avoid surgery. Some patients make all sorts of excuses for delaying surgery because of fear. Patients may also experience post-operative disappointment, prolonged and severe post-operative torment. Severe agonizing reactions can cause symptoms resembling great frustration requiring psychiatric interventions.
Radiation Therapy Patients have a feeling of fear when facing machines and side effects, fear of radiation. This is a very normal expression. Explanations of the basic principles of radiation therapy will help correct that misconception. A detailed discussion of the side effects will ease the patient's fear. Many times, patients are afraid that the doctor, family or medical facility will leave "full responsibility", or be abandoned in the middle of treatment stages.
Chemotherapy Most patients are worried and scared at the thought that chemotherapy can cause hair loss. Fear of hair loss can make people around stigmatize and scorn. Hair loss can occur, but current chemotherapy regimens do not cause hair loss. You can wear a wig during chemotherapy, a few months after chemotherapy your hair will grow back normally. Attention should be paid to timely treatment of complications because many patients drop out of treatment due to severe side effects.
2.4. End stage Most patients are aware of the force majeure process of the terminal illness, with or without explanation. Some people are fearful that they may have to be referred to a psychiatrist and get timely supportive psychiatric treatment.
Fear of abandonment: Often patients who worry about cancer in the late stages will not receive special attention from medical staff. When the patient is terminal, the physician's positive and supportive attitude alleviates the grief of the patient and family. Distortion and loss of dignity anxiety: The mental and physical effects of the dying person cause a variety of concerns. Fear of pain: At the end of treatment, appropriate analgesics are paramount. Fear of leaving work unfinished: This concern includes both practical and psychological issues. This fear changes with adulthood. For example, a young father and mother take care of their young children, while some patients worry about unresolved family and economic problems... In case of illness, they always worry leading to depression, health disorders.

The psychology of cancer patients has many negative stages, it is important to have a timely psychological intervention team to help cancer patients overcome their fear, depression, and tormented feelings. .
Psychology Clinic - Vinmec International General Hospital officially came into operation in April 2019, has the function of examining, consulting and outpatient treatment of psychological problems and psychological health. With modern equipment, Vinmec Mental Health Clinic is currently cooperating with experienced professors and experts:
MSc. Doctor Nguyen Van Phi - Psychologist, Vinmec Times City International Hospital: with 7 years of experience working as a lecturer in Psychiatry - Hanoi Medical University, Doctor Psychiatrist at Hanoi Medical University Hospital & Central Geriatric Hospital, and a member of the Vietnam Psychiatric Association. MSc. Dr. Pham Thanh Luan - Psychologist, Vinmec Times City International Hospital: with 5 years of experience in research, examination and treatment of Psychiatric diseases, trained at prestigious universities trust, practice in-depth expertise in the French Republic. MSc. Doctor Nguyen Trong Hien - Psychologist, Vinmec Times City International Hospital: with 6 years as a lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry - Hanoi Medical University and Central Geriatric Hospital, together with Dr. Experience in research, examination and treatment of diseases in Psychiatry such as: emotional disorders, stress-related disorders and body dysmorphic disorders, developmental disorders in children, adolescents & childbirth .... Along with the implementation of psychological tests, intensive psychotherapy for diagnosis and treatment, in order to bring the best medical examination and treatment effect.
Customers can go directly to Vinmec Times City to visit or contact hotline 0243 9743 556 for support.