La mayorÃa de la gente conoce los devastadores efectos fÃsicos del cáncer. Es raro encontrar a alguien cuya vida no se haya visto afectada por él de algún modo, ya sea indirectamente, a través de un amigo o pariente, o directamente. Pero lo que mucha gente no sabe es que las repercusiones mentales y emocionales del cáncer pueden ser tan insidiosas como sus efectos secundarios fÃsicos, y a menudo mucho más difÃciles de reconocer y abordar.
In addition to the fear and stress of facing a life-threatening illness and extensive, painful medical treatments, many cancer patients feel isolated and lonely. Often they no longer have the energy or ability to participate in social events or activities or the people in their lives cannot fully understand what they're going through. For many breast cancer patients dealing with such feelings, pet companionship offers great comfort.
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The connection between cancer and loneliness is even more concerning in light of the research showing that loneliness comes with its own set of health-related consequences, including substance abuse, depression, and heart problems. In addition, loneliness isn't necessarily tied to the amount of social contact. Even a cancer patient with loving caregivers and a supportive network of friends and family can experience loneliness and stress.
Even though most research around cancer focuses on prevention and treatment, cancer survivorship, which covers the unique experience and risks associated with being a cancer survivor, is receiving more attention. According to experts, loneliness is just as crucial for survivors as it is for cancer patients. For example, one study showed a significant correlation between loneliness and recurrence for breast cancer survivors.
Los beneficios de las mascotas para los pacientes y supervivientes de cáncer
For cancer patients and survivors suffering from the effects of loneliness, one potential solution may be a drive to the local animal shelter. The health benefits of owning a pet are widely recognized by now; among them, the CDC lists things such as decreased blood pressure and cholesterol, reduced feelings of stress and loneliness, and increased physical fitness.
In addition to providing unconditional love and much-needed physical contact, having a pet may come with the added benefit of giving life a sense of purpose and structure for cancer patients and survivors. Caring for a pet can supply an external sense of motivation and responsibility for people who might otherwise be feeling hopeless. Even for cancer patients and survivors who don't own a pet, animal-assisted therapy during treatment can help to alleviate the pain or boredom of treatments and lift their spirits.
Aunque muchas mascotas pueden proporcionar una sensación de compañÃa, los perros suelen aparecer con más frecuencia en los debates sobre los beneficios terapéuticos de los animales de compañÃa. Por ejemplo, es posible que haya oÃdo hablar de perros capaces de detectar el cáncer. Pero, además de su capacidad de diagnóstico, los perros pueden ayudar a sus dueños de otras formas.
For example, dogs need exercise, which means their owners are likely to be more active—physical exercise results in the release of endorphins, which can help with pain management and mood improvement. In addition, just petting dogs has been shown to result in decreased levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and increased levels of oxytocin (the feel-good hormone).
Cabe señalar que, aunque los animales de compañÃa y la terapia con animales pueden tener enormes beneficios para las personas que sufren los efectos del cáncer, estas opciones pueden no ser una buena idea para todo el mundo, especialmente para los pacientes o supervivientes inmunodeprimidos. Debido al riesgo potencial de contraer enfermedades de los animales, los pacientes deben consultar con sus médicos si tener una mascota es seguro y qué animales son los más adecuados para ellos.
SurvivingBreastCancer.org (SBC) se dedica a apoyar a las personas afectadas por el cáncer de mama y a sus familias. SBC ofrece una plataforma educativa y una comunidad virtual para ayudar a las pacientes con cáncer de mama, a las supervivientes y a sus familias a afrontar la prevención, el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y otros aspectos. Consulte nuestros recursos o considere la posibilidad de hacer una donación a hoy mismo.
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