A lung cancer diagnosis and treatment can bring many challenges. Mental health counseling can help provide you with emotional support and skills to cope.
When you’re getting treatment for lung cancer, mental health counseling or other psychosocial support may help you manage the social and emotional challenges that you may face.
It may also help ease certain physical symptoms or treatment side effects, such as cancer-related fatigue.
Read on to learn more about the potential benefits of counseling and how to find a counselor.
Mental health counseling and other psychosocial support may help you manage the emotional, social, or physical challenges of a lung cancer diagnosis or cancer treatment.
Although research findings have been mixed, a
- emotional well-being
- social well-being
- physical well-being
The authors of a
- cancer-related distress
- cancer-related fatigue
- sexual concerns
You can talk with your cancer care team to learn more about the potential benefits of counseling and other psychosocial support services.
There are several ways that lung cancer or cancer treatments may affect your emotional well-being and mental health, including those described below.
Physical changes
Lung cancer or side effects from treatment may cause fatigue, shortness of breath, or other symptoms.
Some cancer symptoms or treatment side effects may also affect your appearance. These changes may negatively affect your sense of self, emotional well-being, or mental health.
Lung cancer and certain treatments also increase inflammation in your body, which
Feelings about your diagnosis
You may experience a variety of feelings about your lung cancer diagnosis, your treatment options, or how your condition is affecting your life.
For example, it’s not unusual to feel:
- fear
- worry
- stress
- sadness
- anger
- guilt
These feelings may negatively affect your emotional well-being and raise your risk of mental health challenges, such as anxiety or depression.
Changes to your roles, routines, or relationships
Lung cancer symptoms, treatment side effects, or the time demands and costs of treatment may disrupt your typical routine or interfere with your ability to complete certain activities.
For example, you might find that your condition or treatment plan affects your ability to:
- complete household chores, parenting duties, or other caregiving tasks
- maintain your usual workload or complete your typical job assignments
- take part in hobbies or leisure activities that you enjoy
- spend quality time with friends or family members
- engage in sex or other intimate activities
- complete self-care tasks
Treatment-related costs or changes to your ability to work may cause financial stress.
You might also find that some people treat you differently after learning about your diagnosis.
These experiences may negatively affect your mental health, sense of self, or relationships with others.
Anyone with lung cancer may potentially benefit from counseling or other psychosocial support.
Consider talking with your doctor about the potential benefits of counseling if you’re:
- feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed on a frequent or ongoing basis
- finding it difficult to cope with negative feelings related to cancer
- struggling to manage changes to your sense of self or lifestyle
- experiencing relationship conflicts or other challenges
Also, let your doctor know if you’re experiencing changes to your:
- energy levels or sleep habits
- appetite or eating habits
- ability to concentrate
Lung cancer or treatment side effects may be contributing to these changes, but it’s also possible that they’re signs of depression or another mental health condition.
If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, get in touch with your cancer care team right away or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Your doctor may prescribe medication, counseling, or a combination of treatments to manage mental health challenges related to lung cancer or cancer treatments.
Several types of counseling and psychosocial support may be available, including those described below.
One-on-one counseling
During one-on-one counseling sessions, a mental health professional will talk with you about the challenges you’re experiencing and help you develop strategies to manage those challenges.
You may receive counseling from any of the following types of professionals:
- psychologist
- licensed counselor
- clinical social worker
- psychiatric nurse practitioner
- mental health nurse practitioner
- psychiatrist
You might find it helpful to speak with a counselor who has experience supporting people with cancer. Consider asking your cancer care team for a referral.
You can also search for a counselor through an organization such as the:
Different counselors use different therapeutic approaches, such as:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): to help you identify and change unhelpful patterns in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): to help you strike a balance between accepting and changing difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): to help you accept difficult thoughts and feelings
- Interpersonal therapy (IT): to help you manage social or interpersonal challenges
- Mindfulness-based interventions: to help you focus on the present moment
You may need to try more than one counselor or therapeutic approach to find the right fit.
Couples or family counseling
Managing a lung cancer diagnosis or treatment can be challenging not only for the person with cancer but also for their partner or family. Sometimes these challenges may contribute to relationship conflicts.
Some mental health professionals offer couples or family counseling to help people work through relationship conflicts or other challenges together.
Consider talking with your cancer care team to learn whether they know of any couples or family counselors who have experience supporting people with cancer or their loved ones.
Art or music therapy
During art or music therapy, a trained therapist helps you explore and communicate difficult thoughts or feelings through art or music-based activities.
You might find this helpful for managing stress or other challenging experiences.
You can search for an art or music therapist through the:
You can also talk with your cancer care team to learn whether they know of any art or music therapy programs for people with cancer.
Support groups
Support groups for people with lung cancer offer an opportunity to connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges. This may help you feel less isolated or alone.
Support group members can share their thoughts and feelings, as well as practical strategies to manage the challenges of lung cancer or cancer treatment.
To find a support group or other support programs:
- Talk with members of your cancer care team.
- Search for services through the
National Cancer Institute . - Search for services through a nonprofit organization, such as the:
Some support groups are led by a psychologist or other mental health professional, while other support groups are led by a peer mentor, patient advocate, or other volunteer.
Some support groups meet up in person, while others connect online or by telephone.
Telehealth is healthcare that you receive through your phone or computer. Telepsychiatry, telepsychology, and telemental health are other names for telehealth services for mental health care.
A 2023 review found that telehealth can be just as effective as in-person care.
You can speak with a counselor to learn whether they offer telehealth services.
Mental health counseling or other psychosocial support may help you manage the challenges of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, including mental, emotional, or social challenges.
It may also help ease certain physical symptoms, such as cancer-related fatigue.
Let your doctor know if you’re finding it difficult to manage the challenges of your condition or treatment plan. They may recommend counseling or other psychosocial support services if the challenges are negatively affecting your mental, emotional, or social well-being.
Consider asking your doctor or cancer care team for a referral to a mental health professional that has experience supporting people with cancer.
You might also find it helpful to join a support group for people with lung cancer.