By Ashley Griffin, MSW, LCSW, Social Worker, Clinical Services

Texas Oncology–Houston Medical Center, Sugar Land, Deke-Slayton, Baytown, Pasadena

May is Mental Health Month. In recognition, we begin a special summer series on emotional health for cancer patients and caregivers. The series continues in the next several Foundation Biweekly newsletter editions.

Cancer survivorship extends far beyond physical healing. While medical treatment targets the disease, the emotional and spiritual dimensions of recovery often determine how fully patients, caregivers, and survivors can move forward with their lives. Emotional and spiritual well-being are essential to survivorship, influencing resilience, relationships, and quality of life for everyone affected by cancer. However, the process of maintaining or regaining a sense of emotional and spiritual wellness is not linear, it might feel like a rollercoaster of ups and downs.

For patients, the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Fear, uncertainty, sadness, anger, and even guilt are common responses. The rigors of treatment – chemotherapy, radiation, surgery – can leave not only physical scars but emotional ones as well. Their life has been imprinted by this moment that they didn’t ask for. As treatment progresses, patients may feel isolated or misunderstood, even by loved ones who want to help but do not fully grasp the depth of the experience. Roles have shifted, and the patient’s identity may have gotten lost along the way, whether it be their job or the role within a group or family.

Change is hard, and patients need time to emotionally process what they’ve gone through. Emotional processing is not on the medical treatment plan they are given. In reality, patients are experiencing loss – time, finances, enjoyment, change in eating habits, intimacy with a partner, body changes. Some of these changes might require needing more help from others, which can feel hard. There are cultural barriers to asking for help, as if it’s not normal. However, experiencing cancer is not normal, and we all need help sometimes.

Tending to emotional health during this time is crucial. Supportive counseling, mental healthcare, and open communication can provide patients with tools to process their feelings, navigate anxiety, and build emotional resilience.

Spiritual health can become increasingly important for patients. Confronting mortality often brings existential questions to the surface. Spirituality can be an anchor, whether rooted in organized religion or a personal sense of purpose and meaning. Prayer, meditation, mindfulness, or simply connecting with nature or loved ones can offer comfort and a sense of grounding. Many patients find that nurturing their spiritual life helps them cope with fear, stay hopeful during treatment, and find peace amid uncertainty.

There is a myth that rainbows and life as normal await once treatment is completed. Survivors who have completed treatment often encounter a new set of emotional and spiritual challenges. While others may expect celebration and relief, survivors frequently experience a mix of emotions – lingering fear of recurrence, uncertainty about the future, and grief for what was lost during the illness. There may also be physical changes, fatigue, or cognitive effects that continue after treatment ends, making adjustment difficult. Some survivors feel a sense of isolation or disconnection from those who have not been through a similar experience and may be searching for an identity of who they are now. It sets the stage for a flood of emotions to break through.

The Japanese art form of kintsugi repairs broken pottery using gold. Instead of hiding the cracks, the repair highlights them, turning the once-broken object into something more beautiful and unique. This truly embodies the essence of cancer survivorship. While cancer is a shattering experience, the cracks tell a story, embracing imperfection and moving from brokenness to wholeness.

Emotional healing for survivors involves validating these complex feelings, finding new routines, developing healthy coping strategies, and dealing with the uncertainty of the future. Survivors can define mental wellness on their own terms, and there are resources to tap into. Acknowledging and accepting the individual scars and finding balance through mental and emotional wellness means tapping into support, finding self-compassion, and having power over fear. Counseling and survivorship support groups, such as Texas Oncology’s Beyond Cancer support group, can provide a safe space for processing emotions and building connections. Spiritually, survivorship often prompts reflection and reevaluation. Many survivors report a deepened sense of purpose, increased appreciation for life, or a renewed connection to their values and beliefs. Spiritual support – whether from clergy, chaplains, or personal practices – can help make sense of their experience and move forward with clarity and hope.

Emotional and spiritual health are not separate from medical care; they are integral to holistic healing. Whether you had cancer or helped someone through cancer, tending to these dimensions fosters resilience, improves relationships, and enhances overall well-being. Addressing the full spectrum of survivorship – including the unseen emotional and spiritual burdens – allows everyone touched by cancer to heal more completely and live more fully.

By Leticia Hernandez, Survivor and Marketing Specialist, Texas Oncology 

“But you’re so young! You’re so healthy!”

These were the words I’d hear most often not long after my cancer diagnosis at the age of twenty-five. When you hear the word cancer, it’s not often that someone under the age of 40 comes to mind. From the moment you receive a cancer diagnosis, your days are quickly filled with scans, blood draws, infusions, appointments, and oftentimes, a feeling of being in limbo or “purgatory”, as some AYA survivors call it. Instead of touring college campuses, starting grad school, or advancing in your career, you’re making life-and-death decisions, watching friends move forward in life, and sometimes feeling those friends distance themselves (known as cancer ghosting) – unsure of what to do, afraid to say the wrong thing, and even reflecting on their own health – knowing that cancer doesn’t discriminate.

Survivors’ Day used to be an annual occasion that made a knot form in my stomach and tears spring immediately from my eyes. Being given a label and an experience that you never wanted and didn’t ask for gives you a lot to reckon with, and for many, it’s a lifelong journey of making peace with something that wreaks havoc (sometimes in perpetuity) in every corner of your world. When you receive a cancer diagnosis, your plans for the future are quickly halted, and the weight of what is settles in. We grapple with the cards we’ve been dealt as we attempt to make sense of what we’re about to endure – a trial by fire, of sorts.

Survivors’ Day can hold many emotions for each survivor, ranging from joy, relief, and gratitude to sadness and grief – each feeling as valid as the next. Throughout survivorship with the help of AYA support groups and counseling, I’ve been able to find my voice in the ‘after,’ and make sense of my lived experience through nonprofit work and advocacy for fellow survivors. My work in and involvement with local and national organizations has helped me heal, connect with fellow AYAs, and has reshaped my view of what Survivors’ Day can mean – new beginnings, strength, and resilience from within.

The lazy, hazy days of summer are a time people of all ages anticipate. The season presents unique challenges for cancer patients and survivors. Regardless of whether you are in active treatment or remission, here are some tips to enjoy the summer months.

“Summer is a wonderful time for patients and survivors to be outside, enjoying the sun, exercising, and being with family and friends,” said Carl Chakmakjian, D.O., FACP, medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Waco, Gatesville, and Mexia. “However, with immunocompromised systems and sensitivities they may not have previously had, it’s important to take precautions. With a few commonsense habits, patients and survivors can easily enjoy the summer months.”

• Protect yourself. Chemotherapy, radiation, and certain medications can increase your susceptibility to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Try to be outside in the early morning or late evening hours to avoid the strong sunshine. Always use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply every 40 or 80 minutes according to the product label, or more often if you’re sweating or swimming. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses provide protection to your head, ears, and eyes. Insect repellent can help ward off unwelcome bites.
• Stay hydrated. Everyone needs to drink more water during the summer. Treatments and their side effects can cause an increased need for water in cancer patients. Drink continuously throughout the day and try to limit your intake of sugary or caffeinated beverages, as they can dehydrate you.
• Be heat aware. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious risks. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and confusion. Avoid strenuous activities during peak heat and seek air-conditioned environments. If you feel yourself getting overheated, seek help immediately.
• Prevent infections – A weakened immune system is another side effect of cancer treatment. To lower your risk of infection or adverse effects, avoid large summer gatherings, wash your hands frequently, and practice good hygiene. Do not share food or drinks and avoid public swimming pools.

“It is also important to take care of your mental health,” said Dr. Chakmakjian. “There are many health benefits derived from enjoying the summer activities such as a quiet walk early in the morning or relaxing gardening. These can both boost your mood and reduce stress.”

A few small changes and being mindful of safety will enable cancer patients to fully take in the summer. If you have any questions or concerns about what’s right for you, please consult your Texas Oncology healthcare team for additional guidance and support.