Patients with PTSD already face difficulties, but the diagnosis of a serious illness, such as cancer, can have an effect on their symptoms in a treatment-hindering way. Matthew Cordova, PhD, a staff psychologist at the VA Northern California Martinez Outpatient Clinic, explained how PTSD can create difficulties for patients when they are diagnosed with a life-threating illness like cancer.
“Clinically what we see is that these patients are triggered to experience anxiety and avoidance specifically because of their cancer experience,” explained Dr. Cordova. Patients’ symptoms also worsen with “button pushers” such as the uncertainties of a treatment setting, diagnosis, and of people who will be around them.
Dr. Cordova also spoke about the challenge in creating trust between the patient and practitioner, which requires extra effort by the practitioner. Some best practices, he suggested, were focusing on the emotional safety of the patient, being emotionally and physically present during their time together, and creating a sense of predictability.
Another important way to make treatment transitions easier for patients is having a mental health team always present at the oncology and hematology clinics. In the video below Dr. Cordova elaborated on other best practices caregivers should be aware of when treating a patient with cancer and preexisting PTSD.
