From the author: Oncopsychology “Ignite your gaze with hope...” (Interview, MK in Tver)People who have been diagnosed with cancer in one way or another are very vulnerable, unprotected and vulnerable . In our country,” said Natalia Veselova, “there are still a lot of stereotypes associated with this disease, for example, rumors about its incurability and the supposed inevitability of death are greatly exaggerated. This is not at all true: early-stage cancers are curable in 85% of cases. Help "MK": Oncopsychology is a relatively young field of knowledge that arose at the intersection of psychology, psychotherapy, oncological medicine and ethics. In Russia, this concept appeared about 15 years ago, but this practice has become widespread only recently. At first, oncology psychology was intended to help people with cancer survive the message of a frightening diagnosis and upcoming surgery; now it is increasingly used as one of the tools in the successful fight against the disease. But, falling under the influence of popular ideas, people either delay seeing a doctor, or, having become patients at an oncology clinic, live in captivity of stereotypes. Fears, uncertainty, suspiciousness, feelings of hopelessness and despair - such feelings overwhelm sick people. Many people feel isolated from loved ones, a spiritual vacuum; time seems to be divided into life before and life after the news of the disease. Someone is afraid of judgment and alienation from colleagues and relatives - if they find out about the diagnosis, and are afraid to share it, they carry their pain within themselves. It’s strange to imagine, but there is still a myth circulating in Russia about the contagiousness of cancer patients. This is not only untrue, but also provides patients with additional psycho-emotional stress. An oncologist is a person who helps patients cope with all of the listed conditions, alleviate them, dispel misconceptions about the disease among the patients themselves and their loved ones. - What are the stages of awareness of the disease and how does a psychologist help? - First, the person experiences shock, a denial reaction occurs, silent defense, double-checks the tests, doesn’t believe. Afterwards, apathy and indifference to their fate sets in, many become angry at fate (“Why me? Why did this happen to me?”), make scandals, turn to God, and only then comes the stage of effective interaction with the doctor, when a person understands: a lot depends on full treatment and his desire to get well. My task, as an oncology psychologist, is to help people not get stuck at each stage, to bypass them and move on, to find the strength and desire to be treated, to activate internal resources in the fight against the disease. After all, a lot depends on the psychological state of a person. Doom, giving up, and prolonged depression affect not only the mental state of the patient and his loved ones, but also the recovery. Depression, if it occurs, suppresses the body's defense mechanisms, and immunity deteriorates. There is a clear explanation for this at the physiological level. In addition, science has already proven that cancer patients who are confident of a cure increase their chances of recovery by 25–40%. Can you imagine? After all, 40% is almost half the success. If the patient’s eyes light up with hope and the desire to live and fight, this is very important! – We often hear that the cause of cancer is also psychological problems of the individual. Does this correspond to reality? – Cancer is a multifactorial disease; in psychology, one of the theories of its occurrence is that unrealized and unspoken grievances, accumulated experiences, and feelings of guilt increase the likelihood of the disease occurring or become its cause. The test that is an illness becomes a point of growth for a person, helping him to rethink his opinions and judgments, behavior patterns, and life values. The period of remission after surgery and recovery is more favorable and longer; the disease does not return if a person is focused on a positive perception of himself and his life. The likelihood also increases.