A Patient’s Guide to Understanding
Cutaneous Lymphoma
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The following mind-body techniques have proven helpful for patients and
family members when facing a major life stress such as cancer:
Stress Management
There are many effective ways to manage stress. While one patient finds a
relaxation CD soothing, another may find the sounds of breaking waves
stressful. Yoga works for some people, but others are too tired so they fall
asleep when the class takes them down to poses on the floor.
Keep in mind some general thoughts as you develop coping mechanisms
to manage stress that can work for you. Do not allow your treatments
to overtake you. Try to stay organized so you do not feel out of control.
Observe and respect the natural limits of your body. If you are tired – rest!
Review your normal routine and learn what makes you tick. What stresses
you out? What soothes you? Understanding yourself and having realistic
expectations of your nature will guide you in determining effective coping
methods. Look at your past efforts to manage stress and consider what
has or has not worked. Know your strengths and exploit them. Ask for
help and take suggestions; other people offer great ideas that you may not
be considering. Most importantly, never let having cutaneous lymphoma
become the most important thing in your life. You can have a normal life
once you accept your situation.
Managing Anxiety
Anxiety can be one of the toughest emotions for patients and loved
ones. Anxiety often peaks around the time of doctor visits or when new
symptoms arise. This is completely normal. Sometimes anxiety fades;
sometimes it does not. A recent study of anxiety found that more than one-
third of patients in remission reported levels of clinical anxiety about the
possibility of relapse. It’s normal to be concerned about your disease.
The best way to manage anxiety is to identify when it is at its highest for
you. Then, there are numerous techniques to manage it. Do not suffer
alone. Seek support from a mental health professional. Talk with others
who have cutaneous lymphoma or have battled it in the past and who share
other characteristics with you – age, geography, family situation, etc.
People with indolent (slow-growing) lymphomas learn to adapt to the cycle
of starting active treatment, finishing treatment, wondering if the treatment
worked, re-establishing a life routine and then wondering when disease
