When you or someone you care about learns they have cancer, daily life can be very stressful. You may feel more uncertain and overwhelmed than ever before.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is here to support you and your family through these challenging times. You can get the support you need, whether you’re getting cancer care, at high risk for cancer, or a caregiver. We can help you cope with stress before, during, and after cancer treatment.
MSK Direct gives you and your family access to all of MSK’s mental, emotional health, and supportive care services. MSK’s cancer mental health counselors take the time to get to know you and your family. This lets our team know how we can give you the best care. They understand what you’re going through.
Meet with a cancer mental health counselor
Connect with a MSK psychologist or psychiatrist for individual, couples, and family mental health counseling. We offer in-person or online talk therapy with our cancer mental health counseling team. Our experts can help you cope with change and the many feelings cancer causes.
Learn more about our services and call 646-888-0200 to make your appointment.
Work with a cancer social worker for support
MSK’s social workers offer emotional support. They also can help you make choices about finances, housing, and more.
Reach out to an MSK cancer social worker for help today.
Get help with talking with your children about cancer.
MSK has social workers who focus on helping families communicate better. Our Talking with Children About Cancer program provides your family with support during diagnosis and treatment.
Read 10 Tips for Talking with Your Child About Cancer. You can call 212-639-7029 to schedule a meeting for your family.
Join a support group
Visit www.mskcc.org/vp to meet a community of people also affected by cancer. Guided by MSK’s social workers, people can share and listen to what others also living through cancer are feeling.
Practice mindfulness, meditation, and yoga
Listen now to www.mskcc.org/meditation for soothing guided meditations and yoga videos from MSK Integrative Medicine.
Connect with cancer caregivers
At MSK, our Caregivers Clinic offers support so you can meet the special demands of caregiving. Learn more about these support services here.
How to Manage Anxiety When Cancer Affects You
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a strong feeling of worry or fear. It’s a common and normal reaction if you or a person you love has cancer.
Anxiety can feel like mild uneasiness, or something strong, like overwhelming panic. Anxiety can make it harder for you to manage cancer treatment for yourself or a family member. It can also affect your daily life and relationships.
It’s important to be aware of the signs of anxiety. We can help you learn what to do to manage them.
What are the signs of anxiety?
Anxiety can cause physical symptoms, emotional symptoms, or both. People going through cancer treatment and their caregivers can feel a few or many of these symptoms. Signs of anxiety include:
- Nervousness
- Fatigue (feeling more tired and weak than usual)
- Worrying that you cannot control
- A faster heart rate than usual
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Trembling or shaking
- Sweating
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Chest pain
- Muscle tension
- Dry mouth
- Nausea (feeling like you’re going to throw up)
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite (not feeling hungry)
- Hard to concentrate and remember things
Tips to manage your anxiety
Here’s what to do for anxiety during cancer treatment.
- Do some light physical activity. Moving your body can help improve your mood and relieve stress. Talk with your healthcare provider before starting new exercises. Use the Exercise with MSK and tai chi video playlists as your guide.
- Get emotional support from the MSK Counseling Center. You may find it comforting to talk with a cancer mental health professional or join a support group. Call our Counseling Center at 646-888-0200 or visit www.mskcc.org/counseling for more information.
- Learn to relax. Relaxation methods include deep breathing, meditation, and acupressure (putting pressure on parts of your body to help you relax). They can help you manage your anxiety. For more information about integrative medicine therapies, read Integrative Medicine Therapies and Your Cancer Treatment.
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Talk with your care team about medication. If your anxiety is getting in the way of your daily activities, medicine to treat anxiety may help. For more information, talk with your healthcare provider or call 646-888-0200 to make an appointment with the Counseling Center.
How to Manage Depression When Cancer Affects You
What is depression?
Depression is a strong feeling of sadness. It’s a common and normal reaction to cancer and cancer treatment. You’re faced with many stressful issues, such as:
- Changes in life plans and your future.
- Changes to your everyday life.
- Concern about the loved ones who depend on you.
- Worry about what cancer treatment will be like.
- Worry about money and legal issues.
- Fear of dying.
Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a mood disorder that can be treated. Talk with a healthcare provider if you or someone you care about has depression. They can connect you to the MSK resources you need.
What are the signs of depression?
Depression does not affect people the same way. You can have many symptoms, or only a few. Depression is common among people going through cancer treatment and their caregivers. It’s important to know the symptoms of depression, such as:
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Eating too little or too much.
- Feeling sad, down, or hopeless.
- Feeling like nothing will make you feel better.
- Not enjoying activities you once liked.
- Having thoughts or plans of suicide
- Having thoughts or plans of hurting yourself.
- Having trouble focusing on tasks or activities.
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless.
- Feeling like everything is out of your control.
Some symptoms can be caused by medical issues or medicine you’re taking. It’s important to pay attention to how you’re feeling and talk with your care team. They can connect you to a mental health provider who can help.
When to get help for depression
Depression can be treated. We’re here to support you. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these things for 2 weeks or longer:
- Thoughts about death or suicide
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy doing
- Emotions that get in the way of your daily activities
- Trouble breathing
If you ever find yourself thinking about suicide, get help as soon as you can. You can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also visit their website www.988lifeline.org to chat with a counselor online. You can contact the Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Resources for Life After Cancer
At MSK, care does not end when your treatment is done. Our Resources for Life After Cancer (RLAC) program is for people who have finished treatmentand their families. This program offers many services. They include seminars, workshops, support groups, counseling on life after treatment, and help with insurance and employment issues. For more information, call 646-888-8106.