Support groups, your healthcare team, your nurse navigator or the person you select, let them be your support rather than isolating. Yes, I said it and I know I am preaching to myself on this one. I read a recent study that talked about just that, social support does matter in terms of physical outcomes. This study was done with Kaiser Permanente and their research-based study provides the evidence that social support helps with physical symptoms. The more you were able to discuss and engage in conversation, the better able to cope with their symptoms (was the result) as opposed to those patients that didn't. Now I don't think that is an earth shattering revelation but if it speaks to you right now, it may hit your awarenss button. We are talking about your quality of life and I could see the validation in the their results that support groups, or an individual from your team or family and friends will help in the long run.
I have found that when I hit those lows that it is time for me to push myself and get out and interact with others and laughing and talking is one of the best medicines out there. Also stated in this study that women that didn't receive, had a lower quality of life.
Women are living longer and being cured of breast cancer, it is imperative that we look at quality of life and what will help improve it. I have often put a funny movie in and sat with a patient that just doesn't seem to open up, or make a silly joke or a funny story seems to pop out when I can see the cocoon going up with a patient. So look for your positive support and if you are having trouble, maybe you too have a true confession that you are isolating and it is time to get up and out an