1. Living in Pink
The Emotional Challenges of Breast Cancer
By: Kaitlyn Jaeger

2. 1in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast
cancer during their lifetime
American Cancer Society

3. For those women, being diagnosed with
For those women,
breast cancer can be an emotional
experience.

4. Some of the emotions they may experience include:
ANXIETY FEAR PANIC
SADNESS GUILT DEPRESSION
American Cancer Society

5. And they aren’t alone...
Breast Cancer affects
EVERYONE
in their lives.
Brown (2007)

6. An Uncertain Future ???
Physical Side Effects
Emotional stress
can be caused
Job Concerns
by:
Relationships
Financial Concerns $$$
LIVESTRONG

7. Having breast cancer can be
overwhelming, but there are things you
can do to help overcome or reduce
emotional stress.

8. Keep a Positive Attitude
Motivating yourself to think positively can be
difficult, but having a positive attitude can
actually give your immune system a boost.
Take time out of each day to do something
nice for yourself and try practicing
mind-over-matter techniques.
Brown (2007)

9. Be Open about Your Feelings
Many breast cancer patients have found that
building a support network can be a great
way of dealing with emotions.
I feel... Try to find someone you can talk to about
your feelings, concerns, and any decisions
you may need to make. They can be friends,
family members, counselors, members of a
support, etc.
clevelandclinic.org, mskcc.org

10. Exercise Regularly
With breast cancer, there are a lot of things that you can’t
control, but you can control how often you exercise.
Studies have shown the regular exercise tends to help women
cope and function at higher levels than those who don’t.
One of its many beneficial effects is that exercise releases
natural endorphins that effect brain chemistry, neurotransmitter
levels, and mood. These endorphins can provide a sense of
well-being and pleasure.
Link (2002)

11. Eat Well-Balanced Meals
Your diet is another area that you have control over.
Eating a well-balanced diet, along with exercise, can
actually help reduce the risk of developing cancer or the
chance of cancer spreading. However, don’t think that it is
meant to be a replacement for treatment.
Talk to your physician or nutritionist about setting up a diet
plan that compliments your needs as a breast cancer
patient.
The US Oncology Network

12. Get Plenty of Sleep
It is important to try and get a good night’s
sleep because it may determine how well your
body fights off cancer.
Z Z
Z Quality sleep can effect:
Cancer-related fatigue
How well you deal with pain and other
stressors
The effectiveness of chemotherapy
Fusion Sleep

13. Learn to Relax
Breast cancer can be overwhelming, but it’s important to
keep calm and try to relax.
There are a number of exercises that you can do to help you
relax. These include two-minute, mind, and deep breathing
relaxation exercises.
When performing these exercises, find a quiet place away
from any distractions that is comfortable and that will put
you in good state of mind.
clevelandclinic.org
BreastCancer.org

14. “The most powerful tool that you have in the fight
to manage this crisis is your ability to think and
For those women,
feel...you will begin to move again, and when you
do, it is important to remember that you have the
final word with breast cancer - you will decide the
place this disease will assume in your life, while in
treatment and beyond.”
- John Link, M.D.
Link (2002)

15. References
American Cancer Society (2012). What is distress. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emo-
tionalsideeffects/distressinpeoplewithcancer/distress-in-people-with-cancer-what-is-distress
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2012). Emotional Issues. Retrieved from http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/adult/breast/
emotional-issues
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (2009). Emotional aspects of breast cancer. Retrieved from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Breast_Can
cer/hic_Emotional_Aspects_of_Breast_Cancer.aspx
Wood-Moen, R. (2010). Emotional effects of breast cancer. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/162221-emotional-
effects-of-breast-cancer/
Beirut, Julia (2010). Mental effects of breast cancer. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/78853-mental-effects-breast-cancer/
FusionSleep (2012). Sleep and cancer. Retrieved from http://www.fusionsleep.com/sleep-and-your-health/sleep-health-and-illness/
sleep-and-cancer/
The US Oncology Network (2012). How diet & exercise help you fight cancer. Retrieved from http://www.usoncology.com/patients/Your
Journey/ManagingYourTreatment/DietExercise
Link, J. (2002). Take charge of your breast cancer: A guide to getting the best possible treatment. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Brown, K. & Freeman, H.P. (2007). 100 questions and answers about breast cancer: Second edition. Massachusetts: Jones and
Bartlett Publishers.