Addressing the unseen: Supporting the mental health of people with blood cancer

“Hearing the news that I had blood cancer was completely unmooring, like a boat suddenly lost at sea. Where there was routine and certainty, now there is unknown.”  

These were the words I heard from a recent caller to our Information Resource Center (IRC). She is not alone.

Every three minutes, someone in the U.S. learns they have blood cancer. The news is bound to have a profound emotional impact. In one moment, you go from person to patient.  

My team of Information Specialists and I talk with people every day who are struggling with uncertainty about their future, who they can talk to, and how their family and loved ones will be affected.  

While the initial diagnosis is particularly jarring, the mental health impact of a blood cancer diagnosis may continue throughout treatment and even into long-term survivorship.  

Patients are often given a variety of psychosocial support resources and distress screenings at the time of their diagnosis. But they are often left with few formal mental health and psychosocial resources when they are completing treatment and making a major transition into follow-up and survivorship care.  

At Blood Cancer United, we know how important it is to care for mental health from the point of diagnosis and throughout treatment and survivorship.  

Tips and resources for managing mental health

Blood Cancer United provides free disease education, resources, and support to anyone affected by blood cancer, including support specific to mental health. We even have a comprehensive free booklet, Managing Stress: How stress affects you and ways to cope.  

Here are more tips and resources:

Creating community

Connection with other people is essential during your cancer experience. A cancer diagnosis and treatment can be isolating; you may feel your family, friends, and loved ones don’t fully understand what you’re experiencing and feeling.  

Online gathering places, such as Blood Cancer United Community™, online chats, and in-person support groups are perfect places to talk with others impacted by blood cancer. You can get practical advice, share experiences and coping strategies, and create a community of support where you feel connected, heard, and understood.  

Some patients may benefit from working with a mental health professional, like a therapist or counselor. It helps to find the right person, and we’ve got tips and links to help you get started.

Supporting caregivers

A cancer diagnosis impacts not only the person with cancer but also their family, friends, and loved ones, especially those who provide day-to-day care and support. Blood Cancer United offers comprehensive resources for caregivers to help them manage their own mental and physical well-being, including a free Caregiver workbook.

Addressing financial stress

The financial burden of cancer can be as overwhelming as the disease itself. Blood cancer patients too often face high levels of financial toxicity (severe financial distress), including medical debt, that can be a factor as they make decisions about their care. It can even stop them from seeking or receiving care.  

Blood Cancer United offers several financial assistance programs to help individuals with blood cancer. My team of oncology professionals—known as blood cancer Information Specialists—can also help patients explore and connect with available local, state, and national resources.

Mental health and cancer: Get the help you need

Anxiety and depression are so common in people with cancer that major cancer treatment groups even have guidelines about how oncologists should assess and treat it. The unfortunate reality is that most people who need help won’t get it.  

While Blood Cancer United can’t guarantee smooth sailing, we can help steady the ship. Please don’t face the unknown alone and risk being lost at sea like our recent caller.  

Blood Cancer United is here at every step, from diagnosis through long-term survivorship. In fact, completion of active treatment is a pivotal period to make sure you and your loved ones continue to receive the care you need.