Managing Depression and Anxiety in Breast Cancer Recovery Patients: Treatment Options and Self-Care Techniques

2023-06-03 14:01:10

One night, I suddenly received a text message from the patient: “Doctor, doctor, I’m so shocked! I looked at the window, and there was a voice telling me to jump down, but I don’t want to part with my children, I don’t know When can’t I control myself? I don’t know how to calculate it!” Some patients once sent distress text messages: “Doctor, doctor, I can’t control my continuous investment, and I’m already in debt. I don’t know how to calculate it?”, , I often have a very fast heartbeat, and I feel as if I will die suddenly from a heart attack!” It is not uncommon for these text messages from breast cancer recovery patients to ask for help. After a series of treatments and related sequelae, breast cancer patients not only bear Stress-induced anxiety and depression are also very common.

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Antidepressants can have side effects

According to the analysis of different foreign studies, the incidence of depression in breast cancer patients of different nationalities can be as high as 14% to 50%, which is about 5 times the chance of normal people. Breast cancer-related depression will make the prognosis of patients worse (ie would increase the risk of recurrence or increase the risk of death).

When did you know you had symptoms of depression, anxiety, or panic? Insomnia, crying for no reason, completely ignoring one’s hobbies, lack of interest, fluttering all day (called Shantaixi in traditional Chinese medicine), not wanting to see people, chest tightness, and poor appetite are all symptoms of depression.

Anxiety is the tension or pressure you feel when facing major decisions. It is a normal phenomenon in itself, but when excessive anxiety affects your daily life, and even a “panic attack” occurs, the body suddenly feels inexplicably uncomfortable, causing intense fear, resulting in inability to Self-care of daily life requires attention.

Western medicine generally uses antidepressants (such as serotonin) to treat depression, but most antidepressants have a window period of 2-4 weeks to take effect, and at least 6 months are taken as a course of treatment, and side effects may also occur. Therefore, most patients do not want to take it. However, how can the problem be solved because of worrying about side effects and ignoring one’s own psychological needs?

A good doctor-patient relationship can help patients use antidepressants with peace of mind, allowing the brain to re-adapt to the emotions that normal people should have, not just sad emotions, and with appropriate counseling, patients can relearn to return to normal after drug adjustment. Self-regulation of emotional mechanism, over time to get out of depression, and then gradually stop taking emotional medicine, can help most patients.

Herbal tea and breathing techniques help relieve depression

If I am very resistant to antidepressants, will Chinese medicine help? There was a study in Taiwan that used traditional Chinese medicine on retrospective breast cancer patients (n=1450) and compared another group of breast cancer patients (n=1450) who did not take traditional Chinese medicine. After one year of follow-up, the chances of breast cancer patients who took Chinese medicine to return to normal were 2.5 times higher than those who did not take Chinese medicine. The most commonly used Chinese medicines are Corydalis Corydalis, Gegen, Cyperi Cyperi, Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Hedyotis diffusa. Shaoyao Gancao Decoction, Pingwei Powder, Banxia Xiexin Decoction, Bupleurum Shugan Powder and Suanzaoren Decoction are often used in compound prescriptions.

Some patients don’t even want to take traditional Chinese medicine, hoping to use some more natural methods. Then you can consider drinking scented tea, such as roses, which can soothe the liver and relieve depression, or all scented teas have similar effects. In addition, the liver meridian runs through the inner thigh, so some movements of opening the hands after side squats are effective in making the liver meridian more unblocked. However, due to the difference in activity ability and physique of each person, if you have any questions, you can consult the medical staff. But it must be kept in mind that the severity of mood disorders varies from person to person. Non-drug treatment is generally only suitable for patients with mild depression symptoms, not for patients with severe depression or suicidal tendencies!

As simple as breathing well, it has the opportunity to relieve depression and activate the side effect sensory nerves. Studies have shown that simple focused breathing, isometric breathing or breathing in and out can effectively relieve depression or anxiety. Doing the following series of breathing movements for 5 to 10 minutes a day can help you sort out your depressed emotions.

1. Inhale for 5 seconds and exhale for 10 seconds, alternately for 5 to 10 minutes
2. Inhale through the left nostril and exhale through the right nostril; inhale through the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril, alternately for 5 to 10 minutes

Authors: Dr. Huang Yunting, a registered Chinese medicine practitioner, and Dr. Huang Lishan, a specialist in clinical oncology

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