BP is supporting the McGrath Foundation in its fight against breast cancer. And their new research has produced a worrying finding.
It found that more than half of people don’t talk to anyone about a loved one’s breast-cancer diagnosis. This puts their own mental and emotional health at risk, warns the McGrath Foundation’s Chief Clinical Lead Kerry Patford.
“When people are diagnosed with breast cancer, it puts enormous pressure on both the individual and family,” she said.
“Often, when we’re so focused on providing physical and mental support for our loved ones, we ignore our own needs, to our own detriment.”
Regret
The research found that almost one in four family and friends say they regret not reaching out for their own source of support during their loved one’s breast-cancer treatment.
Further, one in three respondents say they wish they’d been more supportive of the loved one diagnosed.
“As McGrath Breast Care Nurses, part of our role is to provide support for the person who is going through breast cancer,” Ms Patford said. “[But] also their friends and family, from diagnosis through to treatment.
“During such an emotionally challenging time, it is often the partner, immediate family members or friends who ask the hard questions, in order to understand the full picture, in lieu of the patient undergoing treatment at the time.
“This means the patient’s support network really needs to practise self-care to keep up with the emotional demands of the treatment.”
Men ‘shut down’
As for men, the research found that one in five say they handled their loved one’s diagnosis poorly. This means they felt they “shut down”, withdrew or remained in a “state of disbelief”.
“Many partners and spouses we speak to admit intimacy with their partner is one of the biggest obstacles after breast-cancer treatment,” Ms Patford said.
BP describes itself as a “proud and longstanding partner of the McGrath Foundation”.
Vice President Sales and Marketing BP Australia Brooke Miller said: “This year, BP is working with the McGrath Foundation to highlight how McGrath Breast Care Nurses provide vital support.
“Not only for the person going through breast cancer, but also for their family and friends who are affected by their loved one’s breast cancer diagnosis.”
To find out more, visit www.mcgrathfoundation.com.au.
