Stress Training Can Help Cancer Patients

Patients who have been diagnosed with cancer have a lot of stress to deal with—they have to focus on their health, while making the necessary changes to their everyday life. Many doctors recommend that cancer patients take stress management steps in order to cope, and studies now show that those who do take stress training courses continue to reap the benefits years later.

Stress and Cancer Patients

Stress management classes cannot only benefit your life in the present—it can also make the future better as well. In a study published by the American Cancer Society, a group of breast cancer patients was recruited for stress management classes two to ten weeks after their surgeries. The patients took a ten-week, group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention (CBSM). CBSM is a type of therapy that helps all types of people focus on how their thoughts impact their behaviors and emotions. They also learn recovery skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.

The CBSM course proved to be helpful. Years after the course was completed, the patients were contacted again. Researchers found that the patients that received CBSM had fewer depression symptoms and had a better quality of life than the control group, even after 15 years.

Stress Management Tips

 CBCM is not the only way for cancer patients to relieve stress. Listed below are a few other Mindful suggestions for you to consider.

1. Start a Mindful journal. With all the stress cancer patients experience, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Writing down thoughts, worries, or motivational ideas can help relieve stress.
2. Focus on your nutrition. Maintaining a balanced diet is important. Make sure to eat lots of grains, fruits, and vegetables. Drink lots of water, as well, to reduce stress.
3. Try acupuncture or massages. Therapy is a great solution for stress, but it isn’t the only wellness program that people should consider. Occasional acupuncture and massages can help, too.
4. Get lots of sleep. Lots of stress can lead to very little sleep. But lack of sleep can make health symptoms worse. In general, it’s important to get seven to nine hours of sleep.
5. Avoid negative energy. Negative people or situations can affect people health and wellbeing. To lower stress, people should consider avoiding the negative and sticking with positive people.