Optimism and Support: What Women with Breast Cancer Need
With breast cancer, women decrease life satisfaction, however, studies suggest the need to offer psychological support based on their requirements
The Woman Post | Carlex Araujo
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A study called "Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients: Associations with Optimism and Social Support" conducted by Carolyn Finck, and published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology revealed that habitual optimism and social support generate quality of life and well-being in women with breast cancer. Quality of life and well-being in women with breast cancer are inevitable results in oncology. However, the incidence of breast cancer in Latin America has increased; even by age is only 50%. Currently, between 30 and 40% are metastatic diagnoses, due to late diagnosis and of course, poor access to treatments.
The data collected indicate that depression, anxiety, and loss of functioning have gained attention in these patients. However, protective or buffering factors in women with breast cancer such as habitual optimism, a sense of coherence, and social support define the trend of positive results.
Positive psychology in women with breast cancer
Another study called "Breast cancer and psychological well-being: is women happy after the disease?" published by the University of Malaga (UMA) reveals that if patients are optimistic, they regulate their emotions well and look for the good side of life.
María Victoria Cerezo, professor of the Department of Social Psychology of the University of Malaga (UMA) together with María José Blanca, published a research paper in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology and considers that women with this type of cancer tend to experience positive emotions, expect good results in life, they emphasize their positive side, find purpose in it, and regulate their feelings.
Experts suggest that good results make a difference, as they have a specific impact on an external and visible part of the body. However, relying on positive psychological strategies makes patient interventions thrive emotionally and cope with the disease process more successfully.
Resilience in women with breast cancer
A study called "Psychological well-being, optimism and resilience in women with breast cancer" conducted by Rocío Guil of the University of Cádiz and published in the Journal Psicooncología revealed that perceived psychological well-being, optimism, and resilience in women survivors of breast cancer have levels higher than the average values provided by the scales.
Currently, the psychological approach to women suffering from breast cancer, although it is studied in Health Psychology, is a very delicate issue that still has a long way to go. Understanding and explaining how women cope with traumatic experiences of breast cancer goes beyond pathogenic models of health. However, most experts focus their attention on addressing women's weaknesses and vulnerabilities. However, from the most optimistic and salutogenic models, women are considered to be active and strong, endowed with the natural ability to resist adversities. In this sense, positive psychology seeks to understand the processes, mechanisms, and resources of the strengths and virtues of being.
Forcefully, the analyses demonstrate many factors that women require when diagnosed with breast cancer. However, in several studies, the results seem to confirm the idea that if you work on the ability to moderate negative affect, as well as your ability to adapt, you could contribute to the increase in your well-being.
The Woman Post suggests you carry breast cancer with optimism, resilience, and positive emotions.
