Summary: This presentation discusses psychosocial challenges that can arise before, during and after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant or CAR Tcell therapy, strategies to manage them, resources that can help, and when to consult a mental health professional.

Presenters:
Patricia Fank PsyD, Rush University Medical Center
Grace MelvinMooney LCSW, Rush University Medical Center

Many thanks to Sobi whose support helped make this Survivorship Symposium possible.

To read the transcript, go to:
https://bmtinfonet.org/video/ridinge...

Highlights:

Pain, mobility issues, fatigue, side effects of treatment and uncertainty about the future can lead to challenging emotions that are difficult to cope with.
Sometimes the brain overreacts to stressful situations. We need to learn techniques to counter an exaggerated stress response.
There’s not one type of coping style that will work well in all situations. We need a toolbox of different strategies to use in different situations

April 2024, Part of the Virtual Celebrating a Second Chance at Life Survivorship Symposium 2024

Presentation is 40 minutes long with 19 minutes of Q & A.

Key Points:

(05:12): Grief is a reaction to loss and is common after transplant or CAR Tcell therapy, due to the many losses patients can experience.

(07:04): Anxiety after transplant or CART therapy is common and can make it difficult to relax and enjoy health after treatment.

(10:08): Medications can cause mood changes and symptoms of anxiety.

(10:44): Major depression occurs in some patients and can cause difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, and loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed. It can also cause extreme sadness, guilt and hopelessness.

(17:25): Exercise, being in nature and access to green space can lower the risk of depression and improve concentration and attention.

(19:21): Periodically checking in with yourself to assess your emotional wellness can improve quality of life. There are apps that can help.

(24:20): Stressful situations cause several areas of the brain to trigger a fight, flight or freeze response. If the brain overreacts to stressful situations, it’s important to know ways to moderate the response.

(28:15): Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present, aware of where you are, what you're doing, and not be overly reactive.

(30:59): Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps patients think and react differently to stressful situations.

(34:08): Asking for help can be hard, but it is important. It's also okay to set boundaries. We sometimes need to teach people how best to help us.

Meet the speakers:
Patricia Fank, PsyD
https://www.rushu.rush.edu/faculty/pa...

Grace MelvinMooney LCSW
  / gracemooneymelvin0a08ba63  

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  / bonemarrowstemcelltransplantclub  
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