Psychological
Psychological
support for patients with cancer has proven to be one of
the most successful therapies affecting the quality of life
and even survival rates of patients. It now constitutes an
integral part of cancer therapy and is used in a variety of
ways. In Egyptian society, which is still largely socially
cohesive and interactive, a natural form of psychotherapy
occurs in the support that family and friends provide.
However, professional advice and support would greatly
enhance the understanding of the patient in dealing with
this dis-ease and moving towards a healing process. Support
groups are often a very effective method for cancer
patients to talk with other patients about their fears,
experiences and hopes.
Shock
of diagnosis
The diagnosis of cancer is a
shock of its own. Words and ideas can wound the psyche in
exactly the same way that knives and bullets do. Often the
word “cancer” is avoided in many cultures in the same way a
voodoo curse is avoided, and the word itself will conjure
up the specter of the disease. The diagnosis is
often a shock for those around the patient as well, whether
it be the spouse or other members of the family.
Some excellent advice is given on the Cancer
Source website to help them
in understanding in how to deal with the
situation.
As a holistic practitioner, I know that when the mind and
emotions have been shocked and wounded, that person’s whole
energetic system becomes unbalanced and symptoms may
manifest on many different levels, from the mental, to the
emotional to the physical. Even orthodox medicine
recognizes that immune responses can be clearly linked to
the mental/emotional state of the patient.
It is important that the person who has been told that they
have been diagnosed with cancer be treated for the shock of
the diagnosis. This can be done through psychologically
based therapies (talking not drugs!) or more effectively
through homeopathy (check your local homeopathy society
for qualified practitioners – in
Egypt).
Group
work
Note: Many of
these support groups are largely oriented to modern medical
interventions but we hope that they will start to consider
some of the material on this site.
Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt (BCFE)
http://www.bcfe.org/english/index.asp
Egyptian
Breast Cancer Support Group
http://www.hopegypt.org.eg/
N.B.
I would very much appreciate it if you would inform me of
any other cancer support groups in Egypt so I can add them
to this page.
Professional
Psychological Support
There are a
number of ways in which cancer patients (and care-givers)
can find mental and emotional support but it would be
preferable if the practitioner has some training or
experience in dealing with cancer patients.
Addresses of professionally trained oncological
support personnel trained by
the Center for Mind/Body Medicine in the U.S. are
available at this website. However, there may be
Egyptian psychotherapists or psychiatrists who may also
be able to help.