Effects of Breast Cancer Diagnosis on Mary

Question: Discuss about the Effects of Breast Cancer Diagnosis on Mary. Answer: Introduction Breast cancer is one of the most challenging conditions in human life. Currently, people are worried about diseases like cancer because they are life threatening. Although cancer is a manageable condition, many people fail to have a stable mental, physical, and psychological state after its diagnosis. As a patient, Mary is in a similar position. After her diagnosis with breast cancer, Mary is likely to undergo through a difficult time because her cancerous condition will definitely subject her to mental, emotional, and psychological distresses. This paper presents a critical analysis of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impacts of breast cancer diagnosis on Mary. Psychological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Impacts of Breast Cancer Diagnosis on Mary Research has proven that many people fear cancer. When individuals are diagnosed with cancer, they become psychologically-tortured because of the misleading belief that cancer is a deadly disease that cannot be fully eradicated regardless of the efforts put. The diagnosis of Mary with breast cancer will affect her psychologically. Just like any other cancer patient, Mary will go through a very difficult time. When she discovers that she is suffering from breast cancer, Mary will have to be psychologically affected. The first thing that will come to her mind is that she is almost dying. Many people hold the view that once an individual is diagnosed with breast cancer; there are higher chances that it might result into their death. This is what Mary will be going through because he will imagine that her life will be prematurely terminated by the dreaded disease. However, this is unnecessary feeling that should not bother Mary because it is not true that her diagnosis will definitely translate into her early death. Breast cancer should not be equated to death because it is a manageable condition. Many people have survived breast cancer (Leontjevas, et al., 2013). She can still live for a very long time as long as she takes her situation positively and takes the necessary measures to manage her condition. Besides, Mary will have to be stressed because of the feeling that her cancerous condition will last forever. Just like any other ordinary patient, Mary believes that her diagnosis with breast cancer means that she will always suffer from the disease until she dies. She will be psychologically disturbed to imagine that she will live with cancer for the remainder of her life because it is a disease that keeps on recurring. Since Mary lives in the society, she must have witnessed how bothersome breast cancer has been in the life of her relatives, friends, colleagues or neighbors. However, this does not mean that she will also experience the same. Her case will be different because she has detected the condition during its initial stages (Canvin, Rugksa, Sinclair Burns, 2014). Meaning, she will not suffer like other people whose conditions were detected at advanced stages. Therefore, the patient does not need to be emotionally disturbed because of the feeling that it will be a permanen t condition. In addition, Mary will be emotionally disturbed because of the feeling of physical pain to be experienced due to her condition. Breast cancer is a disease that is associated with lots of physical pains. So, Marys diagnosis with the condition means that she will also have to endure the physical pains suffered by the cancer patients. This is the feeling that will subject the patient to psychological distress because she knows that when her time reaches, she will suffer a great deal. The physical pains can be caused by the wounds on the body. It is an unpleasant experience that Mary does not wish to go through. However, Mary does not need to be worried about the physical pains because it is not a must that she must g through because she is different from other cancer patients (Rogers Pilgrim, 2014). She is a lucky patient since her condition has been detected in time. Lastly, Mary will be mentally disturbed because of the stressful conditions to which she will be subjected by the cancer. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer, the patient knows that she will have to spend a lot of time seeking for medical attention. Such a feeling can cause depression to Mary because of the feeling that she will require to use a lot of money to cater for her treatment. Her worries will increase if she imagines that she might be rendered jobless if her condition deteriorates further. Meaning she will have no option rather than depending on her family for financial support. Truly, this is quite disheartening because Mary will lose her autonomy because she can no longer provide for herself. Such a feeling will negatively impact on the cognitive status of the patient (Morse, Salyers lins, 2012). As an adult human being, Mary does not wish to be stereotyped as a bother that cannot fend for herself, but has to rely on the support of well-wishers. How to Address Marys Cognitive, Behavioral, and Psychological Problems For a very long time, many people have been succumbing to cancer. However, one thing that is not taken seriously is that not all these deaths are caused by physical pains. A large number of cancer-related deaths are triggered by psychological and mental distresses. Once a person is diagnosed with cancer, the life drastically changes because of stress. However, Mary should not be allowed to join the list of such people. She should be helped to deal with her condition and manage it well. To do so, the healthcare providers should address the patients physical and psychological needs. Marys problem should be addressed by providing her with holistic healthcare services. Meaning, her care should not be narrowed down to physical, but be extended to psychological. The healthcare provider should be ready to offer her counseling therapy to enable her learn a lot about her condition. During the counseling process, the patient should be told that she is in a better position because her condition has been diagnosed in time (Bogner, et al., 2016). Therefore, she should not think of suffering, stress or death because she can manage it. Conclusion Diagnosis with breast cancer will impact on Marys psychological, cognitive, and behavioral status. She will undergo lots of stress because of the fear that the condition will cause her permanent pain and suffering. This is what many cancer patients go through. However, the patients condition can be managed if provided with psychological support. She should be empowered not be psychologically distressed because breast cancer must not cause all the anticipated problems. If all these issues are addressed during counseling, the patient will be helped to lead a better life. References Bogner, H.R., et al., (2016). Does a Depression Management Program Decrease Mortality in Older Adults with Specific Medical Conditions in Primary Care? An Exploratory Analysis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 64(1), pp.126-131. Canvin, K., Rugksa, J., Sinclair, J. Burns, T. (2014). Patient, psychiatrist and family carerexperiences of community treatment orders: qualitative study. Social psychiatry andpsychiatric epidemiology, 49(12), pp.1873-1882. Leontjevas, R., et al., (2013). A structural multidisciplinary approach to depression managementin nursing-home residents: a multicentre, stepped-wedge cluster- randomised trial. TheLancet, 381(9885), pp.2255-2264. Morse, G., Salyers, M. P., lins, A. L. (2012). 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