Why Cancer Care needs Psychologists? – A brief note

Medical community has recognized that quality of life is as important as quantity of life. At present, psychological concerns are given increased importance in cancer care if it is compared with the past. Psycho-oncologists have the obligation to increase the human touch in cancer care from the screening to rehabilitation for the patients who are successfully treated and palliative care for patients who go through the end-of-life process.

The work of Psycho-oncologists starts from prevention aspects such as tobacco cessation and change in life style. There are many myths related to cancer. One of them is ‘cancer is synonymous to death and the treatment is very distressing’. Thus to alleviate the myths about cancer and cancer care is another responsibility of Psycho-oncologists.

All patients experience some level of distress associated with diagnosis and treatment of cancer at all stages of disease. However very fewer patients are referred for psycho-social care due to under recognition of patient’s psychological needs by primary oncology team and lack of human resources. Thus to reveal the diagnosis and prognosis for ‘difficult’ patients is one of the key responsibilities for psycho-oncologists.

Cancer affects not only the patients and also the family members to a large extent. The burden of care givers is very huge. So burn-out, stress, depression and anxiety are also very common in care givers. To deal with the distress, grief of the patients and family members is again a responsibility of Psych-oncologists.

In the past two decades, dramatic advances in early detection and treatment options have increased the over all survival rates in patients of all ages with cancer. At the same time, these improved treatment options are also associated with substantial long term side effects: fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression. Some patients develop phobias of needles, hospital and blood or conditioned nausea/vomiting related to chemotherapy. Cognitive impairment associated with chemotherapy (often referred as ‘chemobrain’) has also been described in patients with advanced cancer especially CNS Cancers and brain metastases. When it comes to treatment through oral medications, depression and anxiety are the risk factors for non-compliance. It is a responsibility of Psych-oncologist to make the patients comply with the treatment process and treat the mental health issues.

Last but not the least, the health professionals involved in cancer care go through lot of difficulties to deal with the disease and patients. Job satisfaction of health professionals to work is a key factor to maintain the quality of cancer care. Psycho-oncologists take care of their mental health and preserve their quality of life.

Cancer is synonymous to death???

Many people think that cancer often leads to death and it is a killer disease. It IS a big myth. There are many survivors of cancer. Almost all the cancers are curable if they are treated in the early stage. So what we need is ‘AWARENESS’.

There are many more myths available when you talk of cancer and using tobacco.

1.       I will not get cancer.

Cancer is a disease of cells. When the cells divide in the process of metabolism, due to some unknown factor(s) the DNA programming of cells loses the control over the division of cells. And so cells keep growing uncontrollably.

So whoever has cells (all of us) is capable of developing cancer.

2.       Only tobacco usage can cause cancer.

 “The exact cause for cancer is still unknown. Even though some carcinogens (cancer causing agents) are found, the mechanism how DNA programming of cells is changed by carcinogens could not e found in spite of medical advancement.

For tobacco to cause cancer, it takes so many years. Tobacco is a very slow killer. A person who was using tobacco in his young age can develop cancer in his old age also. So, NOT getting into the habit is what the best solution.

3.       Tobacco is less harmful than alcohol, marijuana and other addictive drugs.

Just because using tobacco is culturally accepted, it does not mean it is less harmful. Nicotine is the most addictive substance in the world. That’s why quitting tobacco usage/smoking is very much difficult when compared to other addictions. Using tobacco leads to so many complications for both physical and as well as psychological health.

4.       Branded/Menthol cigarettes are not harmful.

All Branded/Menthol cigarettes also have almost the same amount of nicotine and other carcinogens (that lead to cancer).

5.       Gutka/Pan masala will not lead to cancer unlike cigarette or beedi.

In India, almost 70% of tobacco usage is in the form of smokeless tobacco i.e. Gutka/Pan masala and Snuff powder (Brand Names: Hans, Pan Parag, Manick Chand and etc). The consumption of smokeless/chewing tobacco has been increasing every year. There is a high correlation for smokeless tobacco to cancer when compared to smoking tobacco. The gutka/pan masala damages the cells in the mouth where they are placed and change the biological functioning of cells that lead to cancer.

6.       Foreign country treatment can cure cancer.

Almost India has got all the advanced treatment methods to treat cancer. If the cancer is in advanced stage, objective of the treatment would be ‘pronging life’ and never cure. Many of the treatment methods for advanced cancers in foreign countries are still experimental and not proven enough to cure the disease.

7.       Alternate medicines have certain cure for cancer even if it is advanced

No alternate medicine has proven scientifically to cure cancer in advanced stage.

8.       People with cancer must remain confined in a hospital bed.

Not necessarily. It is based on the site and stage of cancer. 

To Nagarathaar Community from a Psychologist

The content is moved to Google Docs. Please Click Here to view!

Re-searching Myself!

Research=Re + Search; ‘Keep Searching for facts/truth’ has become the essential part of any field nowadays. With the advent of Internet Revolution and Satellite Technology, one has to equip to compete with global standards. All the global standards are the outcome of carefully done researches. Especially as a student of Behavioral Science, the arena is much wider for the Research.

To a significant extent, my values, beliefs, attitude and understanding of myself have changed after studying Research Methodology and doing Researches as a part of curricula. Research Methodology provides pathway to objective and proof based beliefs and values. It triggers the curiosity to explore the real cause(s) of any behavior or event.

The one who has done research in a highly effective manner is given Ph.D. He is honored and believed to be a great man in a particular field because he should have done everything scientifically following the Research Methodology and is able to respond the quarries raised with proof based answers. It is believed that he would have studied everything related to his field and is considered and consulted as an expert in the field.

There is a Tamil Proverb-“Kannal Kaanpathum Poi, Kaadhal Ketpathum Poi, Theera Visarippathae Mei” meaning whatever we see, hear may be illusory but scientific enquiry makes us to find the facts. There is a Thirukkural (written by Thiruvalluar)-“EpporuL Yaar-yaar Vaay Kaetpinum ApporuL MeiporuL Kaanbathu Arivu” meaning whatever we hear from others must be examined and that’s the sign of possessing analytical sense. Do we all thus

posses the so called ‘Analytical Sense’?! L

I would tell you, don’t believe in God until you really (scientifically!?) find He is there, because the belief in God sometimes makes you irrational. According to Albert Ellis, a famous Psychotherapist (Founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy-REBT) says, “Believing in God is also irrational in addition to many others”

You may tell me, “Everything cannot be found by Science such as existence of God” Yes, of course, I agree. But please accept that Science is in the process of finding facts to a great extent and all of us tasting the fruits of science in the form of Technology.

The life without knowing the facts have been leading to superstitions. Until recent times, we kept Leprosy as a harmful disease which was believed to be a curse and now it is found that Leprosy can be cured with proper medications! It is the outcome of Research. Paradigm shifts take place as an effect of Researches all over the world.

Generally speaking, we keep judging everything with our previous experience and no knowledge update takes place. Updating knowledge through various resources would enhance the Perceiving ability instead of judging.

Thus in whatever we see, hear, smell, understand and do, they have to be correlated with the scientific facts that are found from recent researches. I know it is not that easy but can be done step by step.

Let’s come out and explore the world with no preconceived notions and as it is!!

British India and Indian India

We see many injustices and unfair things happening everywhere in our country. If you compare British India and this Indian India, more or less it is the same situation. The superiors of this state and many other people exploit us and manage the agitations by many ways; they are ready to do anything for the sake of their livelihood and maintain their social and monitory status.

The full stop can be put only by attracting people for support against those dangerous persons through various strategies. The strategy used by Gandhi at that time is Non-Violence. It was powerful due the reason that they followed the Path of Truth in which most of the lay men believe and the British did not expect non-violence to be the reaction for violence and so they respected it. It is applicable for Indian India also.

The best non-violence strategy that we have in this Indian India is MEDIA through which we can make anything happen. That’s why people who want to exploit us have taken Media in their hands, but I reckon it is not possible all the time to hide the truth. So using media in an effective way is the need of the hour more importantly. It must be continuous because lay men will forget the issues if some distraction takes place.

People who stand for truth and justice have to be both firm and effective in bringing the issues to the public who are least bothered about them. The freedom fighters were firm when the mere existence of Indians became a question in British India. So only-when the mere existence becomes a question, the sufferers join together. If the exploiter is such a person who knows the psychology of the sufferers or who has a psychologist with him will never make people to get into the question of existence, they will both exploit and do something good to retain power on lay men.

Bringing the issues to the public is the only way to eradicate exploitation through media, because everyone is afraid of public in one matter or another. If and only if the followers of truth know the psychology of both lay men and exploiters, can use the media effectively to communicate their ideologies to the public and stop people not to become their hand toys, it is possible to hoard the truth.

Then agitation from lay men will be initiated with the immediate cause of emotions but once it is started, intelligence should play the role to eradicate exploitation further for which the people of justice must have studied or known a lot about dealing people.

I write this after seeing a film Aayutham Seivom, Strike in Madras School of Social Work, Strike in Madurai American College and the status of Vellore Vallalar Middle School.

For many of us, the God has given us a lot of chances to understand this real world without affecting our routine life. I believe, everyone is born for a noble cause. Let us continue our covert observations and understand the things better. Let us wait for the right time to take serious efforts in our journey towards Truth and God.

Cinema - Modern Form of Literature

Yes, cinema has become the modern form of literature. It has taken away the place of Epics, Poems, Short stories, novels, plays and even music concerts.

Literature is the one which shows the real life with some exaggeration to attract the people. In olden days, the epics, poems, short stories, novels and plays were doing it but nowadays Cinema has stolen all their significance. Cinema shows real life situations with the help of some characters mainly Hero and Heroin. The directors are able to show their philosophies and ideals with a perfect mixture of love, comedy, sentiments.

Cinema registers / reflects the culture, fashion and mindset of the people of the time. The Directors have the responsibility of leading the society/nation. They are the one who influence lay men more than any political leaders and freedom fighters or social leaders.

While it is shown in the screen, it deeply goes inside the minds of the fans. So it may be violence or non violence. The Heroes have become most of their role models. Whatever is done by Heroes in cinema are known as heroic deeds even if they do the deeds for mere money and with many shots. Lay men start to believe that the heroes in the picture are really heroes in real lives.

Psychologically speaking, the people who like certain heroes in the films consider that they themselves are doing those heroic deeds. People fulfill their desire to perform heroic deeds at least seeing such kind of movies and satisfy their egos. An economically poor fan feels that he himself is a hero and loves a very rich girl which would happen in Utopia only.

We must be able to distinguish the realistic and unrealistic actions of cinema. Most of the Producers, Directors and Actors use the film industry to develop themselves in Status, Money and Popularity. Only some of them are really concerned about the society. While such films are released, there are no men to see that film.

I think the wise men choose their movies by directors and story but lay men choose the movie by hero and heroin. Let us think and choose films which would develop our mental activity and philosophy.

Again psychologically speaking, we can find the personality from one’s favorite movies.

My Favorite Movies are (Thinking that I am a wise man) Aaytha Ezhuthu, Anbe Sivam, Ayiutham Seivom, Bombay, Four Students, Gentle Man, Indhian, Iruvar, Mudhalvan, Pudhiya Mugam, Ramana, Ratchagan, Samurai, Sillunnu Oru Kadhal, Unnalae Unnale, Kandukondaen Kandukondean, Nandha, Vasool Raja MBBS, Jeyam Kondaan, Mugavari, Naan Kadavul, Veiyil, Jab we met, Titanic, Slum dog millionaire etc..

Can U find my personality?! :-D

Opinion, Thinking and Uniqueness

The very basic concept of Psychology is ‘every individual is unique’. No two men are alike in thinking and perceiving since they are from different backgrounds, have different experiences and posses different thinking patterns. In other words, the God created everyone to be different. Even twins of the same background are different. It is natural and normal to have difference in Thinking & Opinion.

Only because of difference in thinking, we progress everyday, formulate new concepts, invent and discover so many things and make the world a better living place. Assume that everyone in this world think and perceive alike, what will happen? I would say there will be no development and interest in living; everything will be static.

As social animals, we must have relationship with others in the society. The relationship may be with the marital partner, friend, class mate or just a co-passenger in the bus. It is natural to have a difference of opinion in the relationship. The difference of opinion can be called as conflict and it is a part and parcel of our lives.

Solving conflicts makes the relationship healthy and better. If relationships are to be continued, we need to accept and accommodate others ideas some times, be assertive some times or adjust some other times. While we want to be assertive, we should clearly express ourselves about what we think about the conflict so that others can accommodate our ideas. To avoid conflicts, we follow some common rules, codes and conducts in the social relationships. One of the examples is Traffic Rules to avoid conflicts in the travel. As far as personal relationship is concerned, we lack in that. It is necessary to formulate the rules consciously for personal relationships according to our life experiences and consulting with the others who engage in the relationship.

Likewise for the same action by an individual, people give various opinions; some appreciate; some comment badly; some others are neutral. The opinion differs just because of the meaning that people attach as a result of the previous experiences. The negative opinions are otherwise called as feedbacks. As a result of different perceptions, we receive negative feedbacks from others as long as we live in this world. The important thing is how we take the feedbacks, either take it easy or worry. To avoid worries, we have to be open-minded and take them into our consideration. If they are not acceptable, just leave them. If the feedbacks are true, work on them and develop the skills to achieve greater heights. The one who gets feedbacks is lucky and can improve a lot. So be proud of getting feedbacks.

We should also understand that the only way to know about people is to analyze others’ actions and make comments on them. Likewise it is natural for others also analyze our behavior and make comments.

Concerning the difference in thinking, give feedbacks to others and receive feedbacks from others in an acceptable way to have a healthy relationship with everyone which would ultimately make people of this world better.