Breast cancer is relatively common among middle-aged women or women with child bearing age. Around 1 in 9 women develop breast cancer. Patients with breast cancer experience higher levels of depression and anxiety. The diagnosis of breast cancer will have huge impact on your life, if you are a mother and a working-women. Mindful parenting and having patience are essential during this phase. The communication of patients with their children and with colleges at workplace is important in order to develop palliative and supportive interventions to meet the care needs.
Parenting with breast cancer:
Parents diagnosed with breast cancer find it very stressful to communicate the news to their children. Some of the tips and resources to help you and your child:
- Talk to your child about your cancer. Use simple words they can understand.
- Use different books to start a conversation with your child and answer questions they have about breast cancer.
- Take care of your child’s mental health. Children of all ages are affected by the changes brought by your diagnosis. It is important to provide kids with assistance to help them manage with their emotions.
- Find additional camps or support groups for yourself and your children.
- Take care of your mental health, as it will affect child’s emotions.
- Try to keep your daily routine as normal as possible.
- Respect your children’s feelings about your diagnosis and treatment. Expect changes in their behaviour.
Working during breast cancer:
Working during cancer treatment will depend on your overall health, kind of treatment, stage of cancer and kind of work you do. Talking to your doctor and office staff about your plans for work will help you manage at work place.
- Talk to your supervisor and co-workers about your breast cancer diagnosis.
- Let your doctor know about your work, to schedule treatments around your working hours and to help you cope with stress.
- Take time from work for medical treatment.
- Consider working from home on certain days. This may make you feel less exhausted and make it easier for you to take care of yourself if you have problems.
- Ask for help if you need it. This ensures that you are taking the best care of yourself, as well as shows your boss and co-workers that you care about your job.
Life will not be same for women after getting diagnosed with breast cancer. Dealing with many physical and emotional changes is very stressful and depressing. But, following certain strategies at home with family, children and with your supervisors and co-workers will help you cope with your treatments and balance your life.
References:
- Parenting with Breast Cancer. Living beyond Breast Cancer. Accessed on 23-03-2022.
https://www.lbbc.org/parenting - Parenting during Breast Cancer. FUTUREDREAMS. Accessed on 23-03-2022.
https://futuredreams.org.uk/get-support/protecting-children-breast-cancer-diagnosis/ - Parenting While Living with Advanced Cancer: A Qualitative Study. PubMed Central. Accessed on 23-03-2022.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5290215/ - Working during Cancer Treatment. American Cancer Society. Accessed on 23-03-2022.
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/survivorship-during-and-after-treatment/coping/working-during-cancer-treatment.html - Work and Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Now Research and Care Charity. Accessed on 23-03-2022.
https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/living-beyond-breast-cancer/life-after-breast-cancer-treatment/work-breast-cancer#4.%20Work%20during%20breast%20cancer%20treatment
Know the cancer – Breast cancer treatment
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