By Blood Cancer United
If you’re a young adult who’s been diagnosed with cancer, you probably already know this... but cancer changes things. Your relationships. Your education or career. Your mental wellbeing. That doesn’t even account for side effects or your ongoing questions.
You and your friends all have things you’re dealing with. But you have more to think about... more things that feel unique to you and your situation.
Coming to terms with that can be frustrating. And isolating.
Your mental health plays a crucial role in your survivorship
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are in treatment, or are years into your survivorship, feelings of sadness, anxiety, grief, and guilt may still sneak up on you. Some people experience “survivor’s guilt,” especially if a close friend or family member passed away from cancer. Others fear that cancer may come back or get worse. Some feel a sense of loss or grief for their life before the cancer diagnosis.
And the impact of worries about finances, fertility, dating, relationships, late effects, etc. can exacerbate the impact on your mental health.
Having these feelings is normal, but they shouldn’t take over your life.
There are things you can do to manage these feelings and fears.
For more information on these mental health tips—and to gain access to a free tool to organize everything you need throughout diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, and long-term management of a blood cancer—download our free Survivorship Workbook for Young Adults.
If you’re afraid of relapse
Many people who have been diagnosed with cancer, including young adults, fear their cancer coming back or getting worse. For some, these fears surface or become worse around the anniversary of their diagnosis or transplant date. For others, these fears surface or become worse around checkups and screenings (you may have heard it called “scanxiety”).
A few things you can do to help with this fear:
- Get answers to your questions. Talk to your doctor about your risk for relapse or disease progression and get to know the signs or symptoms of progression. (Knowing this information can help you feel more prepared and minimize the fear of the unknown!)
- Share the thoughts and feelings that are upsetting you. Consider talking to your friends, family, or a mental health professional.
- Make lifestyle changes to improve your overall health and wellbeing, such as making meals that are good for you or starting an exercise program.
- Find a new hobby to occupy your mind! Try something like knitting, cooking, playing video games, painting, hiking, or anything else that excites you.
- Keep a journal and just follow the path your mind takes. (We’ve got a free one here!)
- Connect with other cancer survivors. It might surprise you how helpful it is to talk to other people who understand what you’re doing through!
If you feel anxious or overwhelmed
There will be times that are difficult and emotional. That’s unavoidable. (Remember to be kind to yourself: you’re going through something really hard.) But you can prepare for these moments by having a strategy in place to help you calm down, and better cope with those unexpected intense emotions.
Try these strategies:
- Do a deep breathing exercise
- Repeat a meaningful mantra, affirmation, or prayer (out loud or to yourself). This can help you shape your thoughts.
- Count to ten slowly
- List the items to see in your surroundings
- Stand up and stretch
- Take a walk
- Call a close friend or family member
If you need a pick-me-up
Self-care is crucial, especially during times of stress. You deserve compassion and care—from others and yourself. Intentionally doing things you enjoy and things that improve your mood are great ways to take care of yourself and keep your mental and emotional health in top shape.
Some ideas to get you started:
- Listen to music, learn/play an instrument, or sing
- Read or listen to audiobooks
- Exercise or join an intramural sports league
- Hike, fish, or find another outdoor activity you like
- Meditate or practice yoga
- Take up painting or drawing
- Spend time with family or friends
- Get a manicure or use a face mask
- Cook or bake
- Catch up on your show’s latest episodes or rewatch an old favorite
- Garden
Please note: Some of these ideas may be more challenging if you’re in active treatment or are dealing with long-term effects/physical limitations. We encourage you to find something you enjoy that makes sense for your specific situation.
If you’ve felt low for a while
It’s okay to feel sad, depressed, or anxious even many years after a cancer diagnosis. However, if these feelings start interfering with your daily activities, talk to your doctor and seek counseling from a professional. It’s an important part of knowing yourself, and you aren’t expected to just know all of the answers.
Symptoms of clinical depression include:
- Ongoing sadness or feelings of hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities
- Unintentional weight loss or weight gain
- Agitation or restlessness
- Fatigue or no energy
- Trouble sleeping
- Trouble focusing, remembering, or making decisions
- Feeling worthless, guilty, or helpless
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Even if you don’t have symptoms of clinical depression, you can still benefit from talking to a mental health professional! They will provide you with tools for identifying your emotions and help you learn ways to cope with them.
It’s okay to not feel okay.
If you want someone on your side
For many young adults, a blood cancer diagnosis feels like an unexpected shock that disrupts your lift and limits your independence.
If you’re a young adult with blood cancer, know you are not facing this diagnosis alone. Blood Cancer United has the support, resources, and a community that understands what you're going through.
These free resources can help you work with your care team, understand your treatment options, know your rights, manage your finances and daily life, and navigate survivorship (throughout and after treatment).
And if you feel like you want a little help finding what you need (or don’t know what you need), reach out to our team of blood cancer Information Specialists who can help you sort through it all. They’re highly trained oncology social workers and nurses and are committed to your overall wellbeing.
