Around 25,000 Americans are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year. Of those, over 15,000 will pass due to their diagnosis, with the 5-year-survival rate at barely over a third of all patients. Treatment of these tumors is often limited to chemotherapy or radiation in where the patient is literally bolted to a table by a mask secured over their faces for upwards of thirty minutes per time, and many people must go back for numerous treatments. Sometimes these treatments might not even phase the tumor, and the patient must undergo brain surgery in order to fully or partially remove the tumor. Even after treatments have been completed, the chance of brain tumor recurrence is very high, meaning that many that find themselves diagnosed with a brain tumor begin to lose hope very quickly. Despite all of this, however, it is possible for patients and survivors to use the powers of psychology hidden inside their brain to defeat the unwanted intruder. And while psychology has not replaced medicine in preventing and treating the disease, it can help manage side effects and help the road to recovery to shorten. (Brain Tumor Statistics: Cancer.net, 2017)
The first question that must be addressed is what, exactly positive psychology is and how one can even begin to reach healing through a purely intangible process. Positive Psychology is often described as “The scientific study of what makes life most worth living,” with three lines of inquiry; positive experiences, positive states, and traits, and positive institutions. This field was invented in rebuttal to the fact that much of psychology seems to focus on negativity such as trauma and mental illness, though very little research had been done on the ‘good’ side of psychology. (Ackerman, 2018) How does this relate to cancer treatment? Many positive psychology therapies begin at the point of trauma or distress and use that to build toward fulfillment, happiness, and even health.
In a review conducted by the Journal of Psycho-Oncology, breast cancer patients were encouraged to experience different positive activities and report as to how they felt after completing the activities. Some of these activities include writing, meditation, prayer, art, music, exercise, and therapy. The author states the results of their findings as, “In general, the positive therapies included in this review were capable of enhancing quality of life, well‐being, posttraumatic growth, hope, meaning, happiness, optimism, life satisfaction, and benefit finding in women with breast cancer,” though the author does clarify that this was not the case in every patient and some are more susceptible to treatment than others. (Vives, Font , & Casellas‐Grau, 2013)
As I researched this topic, I was able to locate several articles that attributed better mental health to regular physical activity in cancer patients. Though many individuals wish to relax and rest throughout treatment, and often even long after, in the long run, it is more productive for them to stay physically active. It is believed that activity throughout treatment can help manage the side effects of breast and prostate cancer treatment, though not much research has been done on other types of cancers. Additionally, physical activity has been shown to help prevent the disease from emerging in the first place in many types of cancer, though no extensive research has been done on this with brain cancer. (Warren & Hicks, 2012)
Another helpful tactic recommended by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute is being able to effectively communicate feelings and thoughts throughout diagnosis, treatments, and post-treatment. Both locations emphasize counseling and finding a support group for the patient that they can communicate needs and emotions to. The National Cancer Institute has found that while there is no direct link between the management of psychological stress and cancer survival, being able to manage the anxiety and depression that often accompany a cancer diagnosis can lead to a higher quality of life for the patient. The NCI also advises against using tactics like drinking alcohol or smoking to help cope with the side effects, as these mechanisms can cause even more problems in the future for the patient. (Psychological Stress and Cancer, 2012) The American Cancer Society provides a hotline and a chat service on their website that allows for patients to contact someone if they feel overwhelmed with feelings of distress. ACS also provides a list of ways to measure distress to see if it is a serious problem or just within the regular range that is expected for someone facing a diagnosis. (Coping with Cancer, n.d.)
While on the topic of stress, it is important to note the relationship between stress and developing cancer in the first place. Often, feelings of stress evolve into habits like drinking, smoking, poor diet and exercise, and bad sleep habits, which, according to a study found in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, can factor into the likelihood of brain cancer development. While this study was mostly directed at mature adults with only 17% of participants under the age of forty, the results can apply to patients of all ages, as it is important for patients to not give in to indulgences that can cause worse problems for them down the line. This study also suggests a correlation between major life events and the development of brain cancer, stating that trauma and the accompanying stress can lead to tumor growth. (Cabaniols, et al., 2011)
While focusing on brain cancer for this research, it was important to find out about if the location of a brain tumor could have any psychological effect on the patient, and the answer seems to be a resounding ‘yes.’ According to a study found in “Brain: A Journal of Neurology,” many brain cancer patients go through personality changes after surgery and/or cancer treatments. There can also be changes in social cognition, including difficulty in recognizing emotions in others, as well as emotional flattening in the patient, themselves. Additionally, many patients are at risk of developing personality disorders that can cause a low maturity rate, an external locus of control, impulsiveness, and selfishness. This study found that the risk of these side effects can vary greatly depending on the location of the brain tumor, even after the tumor has been completely removed. Frontal lobe patients were found to be at a below-average score for self-maturity, with almost half of participants finding themselves at risk for developing or having a personality disorder. It is interesting to realize that the physical side of this condition can also affect the psychological side so much, and it is what makes brain cancer, specifically, so interesting to study from a psychological standpoint. (Campanella, Shallice, Ius, Fabbro, & Skrap, 2014)
Since this is a research paper about positive psychology, it is important to look at positive emotions and how they are affected by a brain tumor diagnosis. Hope for cancer patients means being able to see the light at the end of treatments and the desire to go on leading a normal or close-to-normal life once treatments have been completed. While it may seem a bit obvious, there is a direct relationship between a patient’s hope and their overall mood, with both taking a sharp decline upon recurrence of a tumor. Patients often find their hope dwindling upon tumor recurrence due to the idea that the future holds the same chapter being repeated numerous times. Because of this, it is important for patients to try to look at the positive side of things and maintain their feeling of hope due to a poor mood causing more adverse consequences for the patient, including depression, raised anxiety, and heightened feelings of distress. (Acquaye, Lin, Vera-Bolanos, Gilbert, & Armstrong, 2016)
Lastly, it is also important for a patient to be surrounded by positive caregivers, as the relationship between a patient and their support team can cause changes in hope, managing stress, and desire to be physically active. Even if the patient is managing the tools of positive psychology, if those around them have a negative attitude, it may serve to bring the patient down more than anything. Additionally, it is difficult for patients to have a desire to do positive activities when those around them do not wish to participate. Family members, friends, and other caregivers must remember that even though they are under plenty of stress, their attitude can rub off on the patient and deteriorate their health and mood. Instead, caregivers should strive to help the patient build upon their tools of positive psychology, encouraging them to think happy thoughts, to spend time with those they love, and to stay busy. If caregivers can set a good example of how they want their patient to act, then their attitude has a high chance of rubbing onto the patient and assisting in their healing. (Witt, et al., 2010)
In conclusion, positive psychology seems to be very important throughout the stages of cancer, from pre-diagnosis and diagnosis to treatments and recovery. Stress and bad habits can attribute to the formation of brain tumors in the first place, meaning that these activities and attitudes should be avoided from the start in order to live the healthiest life possible. Once diagnosed, patients should take note of the location of their tumor and any behavioral changes that this may cause, as this can become another disorder on top of the cancer diagnosis. When going through treatments, it is very important that patients keep positive thoughts in their mind and that they fill themselves with hope for the future despite their unpleasant circumstances. Additionally, it is important that patients stay active and find things they enjoy doing to keep their mind away from their condition. Physical activity has been shown to increase happiness levels in many patients, though this can vary from person to person, and patients should find what works best for them. Lastly, it is important that caregivers and those around the patient keep themselves positive because negative attitudes and behaviors can rub off on the patient and greatly diminish their health. If patients are able to follow these basic rules of positive psychology, it is very likely that they will find their recovery to be easier and their mood to be lifted throughout the different phases of brain cancer. Though a diagnosis like this is never going to be easy for anyone, happiness becomes possible through a change in attitude toward the situation.
Amanda Roach 