Just like the progression through stages of grief. Everyone’s response to trauma is different. Some remain stuck, and struggle to move on. Others use that trauma as a catalyst for change. For the latter, it’s not called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but rather, post-traumatic stress growth (PTSG). The phenomenon of PTSG was identified by psychologists …
Family
Managing Stress During the Early Days of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Managing stress after a breast cancer diagnosis is so vital, but also very hard. I vividly recall the way I felt after my doctor broke the news to me that I had breast cancer. It was my worst nightmare come true. I could barely breathe let alone think. I recall saying to my brother I …
How do I tell my three-year-old child I have cancer?
Sharing news of a diagnosis with a small child can indeed be challenging. When I was diagnosed, my kids were in early 20s and already understood the gravity of it, but a three-year-old might not grasp it fully. In simple terms, you could explain to your child that mommy is feeling unwell and needs to …
Sex After Breast Cancer
The intimacy of a relationship can be deeply affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Changes to one’s body, the psychological toll, and the physical side effects of treatment can have a significant impact on one’s sexual health and perspective. I vividly recall the moment when I had to confront these changes in my life and …
The Financial Burden of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
At the onset of my breast cancer journey, I was alerted to the realities of the financial burden that a breast cancer diagnosis brings. Indeed, the financial aspects can quickly become a formidable aspect of the cancer experience that can feel equally as daunting as the physical and emotional contours of this disease. When I …