Fear

Breaking The Silence: Mental Health and Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer affects thousands of individuals worldwide every year, striking at the very core of their physical and emotional well-being. Beyond the physical toll, the mental health implications of this disease can be intense and often overlooked. As we shed light on Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial to acknowledge and address the unique challenges faced by cervical cancer patients and survivors.

Receiving a cervical cancer diagnosis can unleash a whirlwind of emotions—fear, disbelief, anger, and sadness to name a few. Suddenly, life takes an unexpected turn, and individuals are thrust into a world of medical appointments, treatments, and uncertainties about their future. The shock of diagnosis alone can trigger anxiety and depression, leaving many feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable.

The journey through treatment is no less taxing. There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to treatment. From surgery and chemotherapy to radiation therapy, each step comes with its own set of physical and emotional challenges. Coping with the side effects of treatment, such as fatigue, pain, and nausea, can take a toll on one’s mental well-being, often leading to feelings of isolation and despair. Danielle shares her reflections on navigating the difficulties of a cervical cancer diagnosis and beyond.

Cervical cancer treatments can also greatly impact body image and intimacy. Surgeries and radiation therapy may result in changes to physical appearance, including weight loss, scarring, and an invisible change with loss of fertility, which can shatter one’s sense of self-esteem and femininity. The fear of sexual dysfunction and intimacy issues post-treatment can strain relationships and further exacerbate feelings of isolation, shame, and inadequacy.

Even after successful treatment, the emotional scars of cervical cancer linger. Survivors often grapple with survivor’s guilt, anxiety about recurrence, and the long-term physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatments. The transition to survivorship can be a challenging period marked by a mix of gratitude for life, survivor guilt, and the lingering trauma of the cancer experience. Read how Kyana found support and what she found helpful for self-care.

In the face of these challenges, it’s crucial to break the silence surrounding mental health and cervical cancer. By hosting an open dialogue and raising awareness, we can shatter the stigma associated with mental health struggles and create a supportive environment for those affected by cervical cancer. Support networks play a pivotal role in the mental well-being of cervical cancer patients and survivors. Whether through peer support groups like our monthly Creating Connections, professional counseling services, or private online communities like I’m a Cervivor, connecting with others who understand their experiences can provide much-needed validation, comfort, and hope.

Additionally, healthcare providers play a vital role in addressing the mental health needs of cervical cancer patients and survivors. By integrating psychosocial support into cancer care, healthcare teams can offer comprehensive care that addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of the disease. Check out a few community partners and resources below:

As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, we stand in solidarity with cervical cancer patients and survivors–amplifying their voices, validating their experiences, and advocating for comprehensive support services that address their unique mental health needs. We can empower resilience, cultivate hope, and pave the way for a future where mental health is prioritized and no one faces the journey of cervical cancer alone, afraid, or ashamed.

The Cancer Trauma Project

Cancer Related Traumatic Stress is real and the The Cancer Trauma Project, together with Cervivor is doing something about it. We appreciate this opportunity to share our project with the Cervivor community and to make a lasting impact. The Cancer Trauma Project seeks to promote understanding of the emotional trauma people experience from cancer. We do this by listening to stories, writing, speaking, and training providers and we need your help.

Cancer Related Traumatic Stress is related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in that it falls on the spectrum of stress-related mental health conditions but it is not widely recognized. In fact, if your medical team told you about it, please contact us because we want to thank them! More often people aren’t told about Cancer Related Traumatic Stress even though people with cancer are often screened for distress. Distress and traumatic stress are very different. We might be distressed about being late to an appointment, having another scan, preparing for surgery or something else. For the most part, when the event that is causing us distress is over, we are OK.  With traumatic stress, the effects are lasting, might not show themselves until long after the event, and are often marked by experiencing the same thoughts, feelings, and body sensations as they did during the event, even though we know we are nowhere near the doctor’s office. This is a hallmark or trauma – your body remembers the event and can activate the same feelings and sensations as if you were there again. In its extreme form, this is a flashback.The most common events during the cancer journey that cause traumatic stress are the diagnosis conversation, the time between that conversation and a treatment plan or starting treatment, and follow up scans. But we know that the cancer journey is fraught with many more daily events, like having to get another needle, realizing that your plans for biological children may be over, losing your hair, figuring out how to explain to employers why you were out of work, medical bills, the onslaught of “well wishes” from others, sharing the news with loved ones, especially children, and many others.

The Cancer Trauma Project has collected over 50 stories. We incorporate these stories into our writing to demonstrate the impact of cancer related traumatic stress. Hear the words of one survivor:

The chemo. You feel like you’re really sick. It’s the chemicals and not the cancer but your mind can’t distinguish that. So emotionally you’re dying. I felt like I was facing my death even though I had some chances I wasn’t going to die. I could have. But I gripped it like I could die.

The biggest thing is I couldn’t ever feel grounded. I felt I was always on, trying to go 100 miles an hour to try and deal with everything. It is as if you’re playing dodge ball and everyone is always throwing balls at you.

I’d stay up late at night, my heart was racing, my actions were quick, trying to figure things out. Panic is disorganized but I would focus on let’s get on with everything. That stayed at a heightened level.

When we talk about the emotional trauma related to cancer so many people validate what we are saying but when push comes to shove people aren’t getting the right kind of mental health treatment and that is a BIG issue. To be effective we have to hear your stories. We are grateful that the Cervivor community teaches cervivors how to powerfully share their stories. We all know that having cancer can be a very stressful experience for both the person with cancer and their support system. But what hasn’t been clearly documented is the way the stress of cancer is emotional trauma. The Cancer Trauma Project is looking at trauma as Dr. Saakvitne and her colleagues did. Trauma in people with cancer is the unique individual experience of an event, a series of events, or a set of enduring conditions, in which the individual’s ability to integrate their emotional experience is overwhelmed.

Your story provides the wisdom that guides our work. If you’d like to participate you can complete our screening or send an email to [email protected]. After you complete the screening form, we’ll follow up to schedule an interview or send you the online interview. If you’re in the Washington, DC area, we’d love to meet you in person. If we are going to truly help people with Cancer Related Traumatic Stress, we need to know how the emotional trauma of cancer happens. By listening to your stories, the Cancer Trauma Project will learn from you and spread the word through writing, speaking, and training. Please join us in this mission.

Click here to complete the screening to share your story.