Fear of tumor is more terrible than the tumor itself.

With the change of people’s lifestyle and the pollution of living environment, the incidence of tumor diseases is getting higher and higher. Tumor has become a common disease that seriously endangers human health and life. Tumor is a kind of systemic genetic disease, and its occurrence is not only related to physiological factors, but also to psychological and social factors.

According to the clinical investigation of many cancer hospitals in China, under the premise of receiving the same treatment, those with good psychological adjustment and optimistic mood have good prognosis; On the contrary, the prognosis is poor. In addition to cancer cells, psychological factors are becoming an important factor to kill the lives of cancer patients. People often say, "A person’s greatest enemy is himself", "In fact, no one can knock you down, only you can knock you down".

It is the primary premise for cancer patients to keep an optimistic attitude towards life, establish confidence in overcoming the disease and firmly believe in their rehabilitation ability (is it too arbitrary to say that the primary premise? ）。 Therefore, it is particularly important for patients’ families and medical staff to grasp the characteristics of patients’ psychological changes in time and give corresponding guidance for the treatment of tumors.

Psychological characteristics of tumor patients

Step 1 fear

Most patients are told that they have cancer when they are unprepared. Their first reaction is to scream, unwilling to believe the facts, and it is difficult to accept the sudden diagnosis of cancer. They suspect that the doctor may have misdiagnosed themselves, and they feel empty and uncertain. After the diagnosis, there will be fear and despair. Generally, patients have different degrees of one-sided understanding of malignant tumors, thinking that cancer is an incurable terminal disease, and even thinking that cancer is a "person sentenced to death". Their fear of cancer is just like children’s fear of darkness. Darkness itself is not terrible, but the unknown feeling of darkness and the imagination caused by it are worrying. Especially in the first week after being diagnosed, they will think, "Why themselves?" Regret not going to the hospital for examination earlier.

2. Anxiety and fear

Patients are often easy to doubt whether their disease can be cured, how long they can live, whether cancer cells have spread, and so on; Suspect that the doctor’s medical level is not high; It is deceptive and comforting to doubt what doctors and relatives have said about their illness. They are also afraid of separation, inability to overcome diseases, loss of self-care, pain, incurability and envy of healthy people. Therefore, patients are always in a state of anxiety.

3. Despair

When patients think that the future of life is coming to an end, they will bid farewell to their hard-working career, warm family and colorful life. This result cannot be changed and shaken off, and they will feel extremely pessimistic and desperate psychologically and highly nervous mentally. Moreover, patients not only have to bear the pressure of high cancer mortality and expensive medical expenses, but also face the risk of losing their original family and social status. They may be greatly frustrated on the road of life, and pessimism will naturally appear, which may lead to special emotions such as depression, mania, hallucinations and sleep disorders.

It is very important for cancer patients to get rid of the above-mentioned psychology in time and properly, especially when undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and actively cooperate with doctors to make psychological adjustment, so as to achieve good therapeutic effect. Marx once said: "A good mood can relieve physical fatigue and pain better than ten pairs of good medicine."

Psychological care of tumor patients starts from the following aspects:

1. Basic knowledge of popular science tumor

To relieve patients’ physical and mental pain, we must first eliminate the influence of "incurable diseases". Medical staff should explain the general knowledge of diseases, such as etiology, symptoms and prognosis, with scientific explanations, so that patients can correctly understand the natural course of cancer and adopt a positive attitude. Tell them that with the rapid development of science and technology today, the current treatment methods and curative effects are constantly breaking through and improving for many intermediate and advanced cancers, so that patients can actively cooperate with the treatment.

Step 2 Build trust

Medical staff should be honest with patients, explain the development law of diseases, the extent that modern medical surgery can alleviate or cure, and ensure that treatment will not bring serious consequences to patients, so as to establish a trust relationship with patients; At the same time, express emotional comfort and concern to patients, so that they can realize that they are not alone in the face of misfortune. The doctor will do his best to help you, so that they can believe that they can be cured in their hearts, and the doctor will find a way to enhance the patient’s belief in survival. For patients who are worried, it is necessary to make them realize the bad psychological and mental state, which can lead to the deterioration of their condition and free them from worrying too much.

3. Relieve anxiety

In the patient’s mind, it is often hoped that after taking the medicine, it will be "immediate" and the disease will be cured after the operation. However, things are not so simple, especially cancer, which is a persistent disease and cannot be solved quickly. If the patient suffers from anxiety and loses confidence in treatment, it will make the condition worse. For this reason, cancer patients should be mentally prepared to fight a big battle, a long battle and a bad battle. They should be in no hurry and do everything according to the "established policy" of treatment. They should confide their pessimism and all confusion to their relatives and friends as soon as possible, and they can also speak out their depression and dissatisfaction at the psychological doctor. Please remember that fear and pain are temporary, and the troubles and despair caused by them will surely pass.

Step 4 get along well with others

Whether the patient has a harmonious relationship with the people around him is very important for his condition to get better. If you can get along well with all parties, you can reduce your inner pressure, feel happy and concentrate your "strength" on fighting the disease. Encourage patients to join some mutual aid organizations and exchange experiences with their patients. Please heal patients’ appearance and encourage each other. Organize patients to do what they can and distract their attention. There are many cases and anti-cancer knowledge in domestic medical popularization publications and health books for middle-aged and elderly people. You can read them often and draw strength from others’ experience to gain a strong spiritual pillar in the fight against cancer. Communicate with cancer patients who have recovered as much as possible, understand how they overcome bad emotions, and see what experiences they can learn from.

5. Guide patients to take positive coping styles.

Encourage patients to exercise for half an hour to an hour every day, such as walking, practicing Qigong and playing Tai Ji Chuan, if their physical conditions permit. People who don’t like sports can chat with friends or make small crafts. Adjusting one’s life coordinates in time, belittling immediate interests such as fame and gain, and listening to healthy and cheerful music can effectively improve bad mood.

In a word, it is an important way for cancer patients to overcome their persistent ailments and regain their health by fully understanding the relevant knowledge of diseases, not being afraid of tumors, maintaining a good optimistic attitude, actively cooperating with doctors to accept the treatment of diseases, communicating with family members and doctors in a timely and effective manner, and properly diverting their attention and maintaining a good lifestyle.

The article was produced by China, a popular science student, and was authorized to be published in the column "Learning Science with Xiaobian" of CCTV. Please indicate the source for reprinting.

Production: Team of Tianjin Jingui Linglan Technology Co., Ltd.

Producer: computer network information center