Greetings and thanks for taking the time to check out our new mental health blog. My name is Courtney, and I’m am a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and osteosarcoma survivor. I will be the host of this blog where we will talk about all things mental health and specifically, the role it plays in cancer.

So, what does mental health have to do with cancer? Often, when we are diagnosed with cancer, life becomes a whirlwind of appointments, chemotherapy, side effect management and a struggle to continue our life balance. We can be put through painful and scary procedures, hospital stays away from family, unknowns about the future, and lifelong complications. While the impact of cancer affects our bodies, it can also impact our mind and emotional health. We may experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, isolation, fear and trauma, to name a few. Unfortunately, mental health among cancer patients is not often a “side effect” we learn about or something for which we receive treatment.

With many barriers to recognition and steps to help, we will spend time discussing mental health diagnoses, and the symptoms associated with them. We will talk about the emotional wellness of the entire family, including how cancer affects children. We will learn skills to ease anxiety, fear and pain, among many other topics. I want you to become your own personal advocate and learn that you are not alone in your diagnosis or mental health.

Come join our conversation to learn, share stories, and find some humor along the way.