33 people die of colon cancer every day in Poland. Although it is the third most common cancer among men and the second most common cancer among women, it is still a taboo subject for most Poles.
Colorectal cancer is one of the more insidious cancers that develops over a long period of time without any symptoms. As part of the campaign "Don't Get It Somewhere!" Everything about colorectal cancer ”, we met with Ms Anna Długołęcka, a psycho-oncologist, co-founder of the Warsaw Psycho-oncology Center, to talk about the role of a psycho-oncologist in improving the quality of life of an oncologically ill person.
- The specificity of a psycho-oncologist's work consists in accompanying and helping the patient to better understand what is happening to him in the psychological sphere - when he learns about the disease, when he starts treatment, but also when the treatment is not effective or is completed with a successful result - which, contrary to appearances, is not a simple situation for many patients - emphasizes Anna Długołęcka. - Sometimes it is even the most difficult moment when, after many months, weeks of very intense, demanding treatment, the time of suspension and emptiness comes - he adds.
What does working with a psycho-oncologist look like? As our expert emphasizes, the most important thing is to follow the patient's needs. - Sometimes a short-term therapy consisting of three sessions is enough for the patient to "remember" that he can cope with difficult situations. That he would know where to get support from, to equip him with techniques that will help reduce tension or deal with unpleasant emotions - says Anna Długołęcka.
We invite you to watch the entire conversation, from which you will also learn:
- What is the difference between a psycho-oncological consultation and psychotherapy?
- What topics are most often discussed during a psycho-oncological consultation?
- How can relatives support the sick person?
- What to do if a loved one does not want to benefit from therapy and support?
The campaign "Don't have it somewhere" is organized by the EuropaColon Polska Foundation, and the patronage over it was taken by the Polish Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Institute of Oncology. Maria Skłodowskiej-Curie, State InstituteResearch.
The partner supporting the events, which was inaugurated in March this year, is Pierre Fabre Medicament Polska.
All information about the campaign and colorectal cancer can be found on the website:www.niemiejtymgtym.pl