Finding Emotional Support Following a Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Diagnosis

If you have been diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), coping with the emotional toll of the disease is as important as dealing with the physical impact. Research shows as many as half of people diagnosed with NSCLC experience increased anxiety, while two in five say they feel depressed.

These mental health issues can negatively impact treatment.

“Mental health is important for any patient’s well-being, not just a cancer patient’s,” says Jack Jacoub, MD, medical oncologist and medical director of MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “A lot of times when a patient receives a lung cancer diagnosis, they feel it’s a death sentence. I have found that cancer patients who have a strong support system, which may include working with a mental health specialist, fare better.”

For example, a study published in June 2020 in JAMA Oncology found that of 50,000 veterans treated for lung cancer, those who received mental health care lived substantially longer than those who did not.

Here are some proven ways to tend to your emotional and mental well-being after learning you have non-small-cell lung cancer:

1. Embrace palliative care

Palliative care, which focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a diagnosis and illness,  is becoming more common in the early treatment of lung cancer. A study published in September 2019 in JAMA Oncology found that integrating palliative care soon after diagnosis and the start of treatment increased a lung cancer patient’s chance for survival.

“Palliative care is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to lung cancer and mental health,” says Kristen Marrone, MD, a lung cancer oncologist at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. “That, along with access to our social workers, are two of our biggest tools and assets when treating our patients.”

2. Start a meditation practice

Mindfulness meditation has a positive effect on quality of life for cancer patients, according to a study published in June 2018 in the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies. Researchers have also found mindfulness meditation reduces psychological distress in lung cancer patients in particular, as well as improves overall well-being.

Meditation and other mind-body practices, such as yoga, “really help patients stay engaged and aware of what’s going on with their bodies and helps them handle the mental and emotional aspects of their diagnosis better,” says Dr. Marrone.

3. Try cognitive behavioral therapy

Emotional and mental support can be found with the help a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed therapist through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of talk therapy that involves working with a mental health professional during treatment sessions designed to help you become more aware of negative thinking and change how you view challenging situations so that you can better respond to them, according to the American Psychological Association.

“A therapist can be enormously helpful throughout the course of diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer,” says John Schweichler, MS, LMFT, a medical family therapist with the Duke Cancer Patient Support. “Your oncology team may have a therapist available on staff or they may be able to recommend local providers. Consider seeking a provider who has experience working with couples and families, as we know that a cancer diagnosis effects the whole family’s well-being.”

4. Move your body

A study published in February 2018 in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment found physical activity can help combat cancer-related fatigue as well as boost quality of life. In addition, exercise can improve a person with cancer’s mental state, according to a study published in November 2021 in the journal Frontiers of Psychiatry.

“Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight certainly helps lung cancer patients stay stronger mentally and emotionally,” says Marrone. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean taking on a strenuous exercise regimen. Work with your care team to develop a plan for physical activity that is right for you.

5. Take mental time-outs

Taking time away from everything related to cancer treatments is important to maintaining positive mental health, according to Schweichler.

“Take time to care for yourself,” says Schweichler. “The effort you put toward caring for yourself physically, emotionally, and in your relationships with loved ones will help you to have the best possible outcomes.”

6. Turn to your faith

If you’re religious, the support you receive from your church, synagogue, mosque, or temple can provide needed strength, Marrone says.

“We have seen those communities rally around people simply by checking in on them, visiting them, bringing them meals, or taking them to appointments so they’re not alone,” she says. “It’s a layer of support and positivity that helps people a lot after a diagnosis and especially during treatment.”

7. Find a support group

More than 230,000 Americans were diagnosed with NSCLC in 2020 alone, according to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF). The silver lining: Thousands of local and national support groups for people with lung cancer have sprung up as a result, according to Schweichler. The American Lung Association, CancerCare,  Lungevity, and many other organizations offer a variety of in-person and virtual, online support groups for people battling the disease.

“There are other people like you out there,” says Schweichler. “Take opportunities to learn from their experience and seek their support. Support groups can be a wonderful source of information and support for both patients and caregivers. Additionally, connecting with a local or national lung cancer advocacy and support organization can provide valuable support and resources.”