Michelle’s cancer journey began without warning or symptoms during a routine dental check-up that led to unexpected findings. Her dentist, who as a matter of course checks patients’ blood pressure, found Michelle’s to be very high. Turns out she had a series of lymph nodes on her collarbone that were pressing against the artery in her neck, resulting in the high blood pressure reading. Within two weeks, a scan revealed Michelle had stage 4 lymphoma.
Like so many others facing this life-altering diagnosis, she experienced a whirlwind of emotions—fear, uncertainty and determination. The initial shock was overwhelming, but Michelle’s positive outlook and her “can do” attitude fueled her fight against cancer. Her journey is one of resilience and hope that offers an important lesson. During her cancer journey, Michelle learned a valuable lesson in the importance of knowing when to raise your hand for help, not only with the physical needs of going through cancer, but also with the mental and emotional challenges. She should know something about the mental aspect of fighting cancer since she had to endure it not once, but twice. After going into remission from her first cancer diagnosis, her cancer returned leading to another round of treatment which included a stem-cell transplant that has kept her cancer free for more than six years now.
As she reflects on her journey, it strikes her as interesting that so much focus is put on making sure cancer patients are given all the support they need from a physical standpoint, but rarely are they asked: “How are you doing? How are you handling the mental stress of going through cancer.”
She recalls going through rehabilitation therapy. “They taught me five different ways to go up and down the stairs that don’t require me standing up and walking down the stairs just in case I needed those skills,” she says. “But nobody asked how I was feeling from a coping or mental health perspective. Nobody asked if I needed to talk to someone.”
Fortunately, Michelle had access to mental health and therapy resources through her corporate-funded insurance. But many aren’t that lucky. Relying on friends and family for emotional support is great, but loved ones frequently don’t have the skills to help the patient and, in many cases, are going through their own struggles in dealing with a cancer diagnosis of someone close to them. Michelle had an epiphany and knew it was time to get professional help when her best friend admitted that it was taking a toll on her to be Michelle’s emotional support buddy. “I thought to myself, it’s time to get real help from a professional just like I’m getting real help with the physical part of cancer,” she says.
Michelle was able to connect with a therapist for one-on-one sessions which she credits for helping her get back to a positive mindset when things were especially tough. One of the ways in which she turned a negative to a positive was to get involved with West Cancer Foundation as a volunteer for the annual West Fight On event. Her involvement and willingness to open up about her mental health struggles helped the Foundation focus on this very important aspect of the cancer care journey and add mental health counseling to its list of free cancer services. Through the Foundation, licensed therapists provide free one-on-one counseling sessions in person or via telehealth to those who don’t have the resources Michelle did. Many cancer patients are uninsured or underinsured and, without the help of West Cancer Foundation would not have access to these mental health support services. The free and completely confidential sessions are available to recovering cancer patients, those undergoing active treatment and even caregivers who may need a helping hand to deal with the emotional toll of cancer.
Michelle’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit. For anyone facing a similar journey, she offers words of encouragement—”You are not alone, and you are stronger than you think.”
Click here to learn more about free mental health counseling from West Cancer Foundation.
