Ways to cope with the emotional side of breast cancer

The University of Cincinnati's Barbara Walker was featured in an Everyday Health article discussing ways to cope with the emotional aspect of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC).

Research shows that anxiety and depression are common among people who are living with metastatic cancer, which can not only hamper the effects of treatment and halt their recovery, but also interfere with people’s ability to plan out their future care.

Since mTNBC usually occurs in women younger than 40, the diagnosis “seemingly comes out of nowhere and may catch you by great surprise,” said Walker, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and an integrative and performance psychologist at UC Health in Cincinnati. “You can experience panic, anxiety, self-blame and shame.”

Walker recommended people talk to and lean on loved ones or consider joining a support group.

“Bottling up information, being stoic and trying to get through it alone can increase feelings of isolation and loneliness,” Walker said. “You might discuss gratitude, creating self-compassion and acceptance. It is very effective at helping reduce stress and anxiety."

Read the Everyday Health article.

Featured photo at top of pink Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon. Photo/Lludmila Chernetska/iStock.