Powrót do pracy po leczeniu onkologicznym często bywa kojarzony jako moment domknięcia trudnego etapu. Leczenie się skończyło, wyniki są stabilne, lekarz pozwala wracać do aktywności, więc otoczenie z ulgą mówi: „super, teraz już będzie normalnie”. Dla wielu osób rzeczywiście praca jest ważnym krokiem w stronę codzienności. Daje rytm, poczucie sprawczości, kontakt z ludźmi, finansowe bezpieczeństwo, […]

Są osoby, które po diagnozie bardzo szybko słyszą: „jesteś taka dzielna”, „podziwiam cię”, „nie wiem, skąd bierzesz tyle siły”. Czasem te słowa naprawdę niosą – dają poczucie, że ktoś widzi, docenia, że wysiłek nie jest niewidzialny. Ale czasem słowa te stają się też czymś w rodzaju roli, z której trudno wyjść. Skoro wszyscy widzą we […]

Badania pokazują, że ponad jedna trzecia osób żyjących z chorobą nowotworową doświadcza bólu o nasileniu umiarkowanym lub ciężkim. Może on wynikać zarówno z samej choroby nowotworowej, jak i z jej leczenia – a często z obu tych przyczyn jednocześnie. Według dużego badania przeprowadzonego przez American Cancer Society ból należał do trzech objawów, które najsilniej obniżały […]

There's often a belief that psychological support is only worth seeking when emotions are completely out of control, a crisis occurs, or when one simply "can't take it anymore." However, psycho-oncology isn't a last-ditch option—and it's not intended solely for those in crisis. Cancer is an experience that affects significantly […]

Laughter—like conscious breathing—is one of the simplest tools for supporting our health, which we can reach for every day. It requires no preparation, equipment, or special conditions, and its effect on the body is noticeable almost immediately. The importance of laughter was recognized even in ancient times. Hippocrates wrote that joy and laughter, like sadness, come from […]

What does it really mean to rest? To stop doing something? To lie down? To fall silent? To not think about it? Sometimes that's exactly what we need – stillness, sleep, silence, and a break from our responsibilities. But sometimes, even after many hours of sleep, a day of "doing nothing," or two weeks of vacation, we still don't feel rested. Why is this? One of the most interesting answers […]

Hair loss during cancer treatment is one of the most frequently reported and often psychologically distressing side effects of therapy. While medically predictable, from a psychological perspective it is a real experience of loss that can significantly impact the emotional well-being of the individual. Many patients, both male and female, report […]

It's no exaggeration to say that sleep is good for your health. Sleep—provided it's good quality—is one of the foundations of physical and mental health. In 2017, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young for their discovery of the molecular mechanisms controlling the circadian rhythm, or internal clock […]

Cancer rarely affects only the body. In practice, it becomes an experience of the entire system of relationships—partnership, family, friendships, and the workplace. A cancer diagnosis introduces changes into these relationships, and very often alters their dynamics. One of the more difficult questions that sometimes arises is: why did some stay and others disappear? The answer is rarely simple, because people's reactions […]

What is an oncology consultation? A consultation is a meeting of a team of specialists who discuss a specific patient's situation. In oncology, this may include a clinical oncologist, surgeon, radiation therapist, radiologist, pathologist, and psycho-oncologist, among others. The goal of the consultation is to determine the best, most optimal, and tailored treatment plan. Why is the consultation so important? Cancer is a complex disease, so therapeutic decisions […]