Gregory Rys: Integrating emotional well-being into cancer treatment makes sense

Gregory Rys, Special to the Erie Times-News
·2 min read

Anyone who has been very ill or has cared for a loved one who is ill, knows the emotional distress that accompanies such concerns.

Distress is a normal, even expected, emotional reaction to medical illness. This is especially true for cancer patients, their loved ones and caregivers. This is why some cancer centers provide much-needed emotional support.

Gregory Rys is a health psychologist at the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent.
Gregory Rys is a health psychologist at the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent.

This is my work. This is my vocation. When I explain the work I do at the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent to folks, the immediate reply is almost always, “What a great idea! I wish I had that when I was going through my cancer treatment!”

The idea of integrating psychological services as a part of a person’s cancer care just makes sense.

Many national and international organizations recommend psychological services as a part of cancer treatment, including the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute and the International Psycho-Oncology Society.

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Despite the good sense and best intentions, many still feel uncomfortable with the idea of receiving psychological services. As a longtime advocate for such treatment, let me reassure you: It is OK.

Who does cancer not impact? Certainly those of us who treat cancer patients understand. Many of us are cancer survivors. Many of us are cancer caregivers.

We understand the importance of emotional support to promote psychological well-being, while undergoing treatment for a tough chronic medical illness like cancer.

Psychological services in such settings are focused, brief and designed to provide the support you need to get through a tough illness.

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This support helps patients calmly think through the treatment options that lie ahead. It helps prevent patients from becoming emotionally overwhelmed while promoting coping and resilience.

Under the care of a psychologist, your expected distress can be treated before it escalates into a larger psychological problem.

Health promotion, distress prevention and treatment: These are the goals of the treating clinical health psychologist.

Remember, if you would like to know more, talk with your treatment team, talk with your oncologist, talk with your family doctor. Psychologists are here to help, whether it is provided at your treating cancer center or not.

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As with any medical treatment, remember to check your insurance coverage. Deductibles and co-pays will differ from plan to plan.

In 2013, the Affordable Care Act was expanded to mandate mental health coverage for every insured American.

So why wait? The investment of care into your emotional well-being is a wonderful gift of healing to yourself and to the caregivers by your side.

It is a gift of love.

Gregory Rys is a licensed psychologist at the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent Hospital.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Gregory Rys: Cancer treatment should include emotional support