Just the mere thought of having cancer can bring someone in a state of disbelief and anguish; after all, it’s a life-debilitating illness that can put a toll on a person and interfere with the healthy and normal aspects of life. This is especially true for men who were diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Source: pixabay.com

Why Counseling Is Needed

A cancer diagnosis is both life-altering and disheartening, especially if the type of cancer that was diagnosed is one that grows instantaneously and has spread to adjacent tissues or parts of the body. Interpreted advanced stage testicular cancer can lead men to contemplate on their fears and strategies on how to approach life. Aside from support groups, counseling is also necessary to provide the person with a whole new perspective in accepting and understanding their condition.

Counselors are specially trained to assist those who have testicular cancer during their treatment. Assigned oncology social workers are adept at helping people cope with their response to realizing the outcome of their assessment. Typically, social workers who underwent specialized training provide in-depth education and counseling. “When considering our health, we cannot neglect our emotional and psychological well-being. Stigma, lack of awareness and lack of access to resources remain deterrents to patients receiving the best care.” explains Allison Abrams, LCSW-R.

Furthermore, they also aid in discerning how the healthcare system works for the person diagnosed with cancer and the options they have once their treatments start, which is usually the dawning of their anxiety and stress.

How Counseling Sorts Cancer-Related Issues

The moment a person is diagnosed with testicular cancer, that’s the time when all the problems tend to get magnified and start to feel like the disease has taken over your life. Counseling is reliable when it comes to sorting out numerous issues that men may face upon diagnosis of testicular cancer.

The main problems that counseling can significantly help with are the following:

Source: pexels.com

1. Stress and Adverse Reactions

Upon realization of cancer, people become outraged and anxious.  Wayne Jonas M.D. says that “for those who have gone through cancer or other serious illnesses, stress is both an acute and chronic presence. Flaring up around procedures and treatment, and lingering long after.” Often, the difficulty in coping can lead to the feeling of losing control. Cancer can stir up people’s emotions that they become stressed, fatigued, and pained, ultimately questioning personal matters concerning relationships, sexuality, and spirituality.

2. Relationships

Counseling aids in helping you cope with your reactions to the illness. The patient’s reliance on the encouragement given and the optimism emitted is a direct product of the trust of the person in charge.” Roy B. Sessions M.D. emphasized. Aside from exploring personal problems, counseling can also help in dealing with complications in any relationship that was severely affected by one’s backlash towards the condition. Most likely, it is the family that gets immensely stirred, whether it’s your partner, parents, or children.

3. Financial Setbacks

Cancer is an expensive illness that not every struggling person can afford. So, you’re wondering how counseling can help in matters regarding financial strain. Well, it doesn’t necessarily provide financial support; it does, however, pave the way for a more serious discussion on opening up about your untoward feelings on financial constraints, pension, mortgages, and even creating a will.

Other practical problems like difficulty conversing with oncologists, transportation hassles, or whatever-related to finances can cause additional stress and tension which may prompt the help of a counselor to provide adequate support and insight.

Talking Helps

Source: pexels.com

Though a lot of people take counseling for granted, it significantly helps especially in moments when nobody in your family understands what you’re going through. Communicating without fear of judgment is highly beneficial when facing chronic, fatal illnesses like cancer. Talking about the effects of testicular cancer outside your family and circle of friends will provide further insight and can you find other ways of dealing with the illness.

How Counseling Helps In Dealing With Testicular Cancer