Q&A with Teena, Counselor from Achieve Cayman.
What service do you provide?
I provide counselling support and a safe and confidential opportunity to talk about whatever holds importance for anyone that might need to work through some of the challenges they are facing in their breast cancer experience.
When did you start partnering with BCF?
I started with the Breast Cancer Foundation in the summer of 2017.
Why does counselling help breast cancer patients and their families in Cayman?
Cancer happens without warning and from the moment the diagnosis is received it becomes life-changing. It is a physical experience requiring fast decisions, action, and a wide range of treatment that varies from person to person. All energy and focus goes on regaining and supporting physical health as it has to, but that is only one aspect of ourselves. We are physical beings but we are also emotional beings, spiritual beings, and thinking beings – all of which require attention and healing after the cancer has been addressed and eliminated in treatment. Many experience and feel the emotions they did not have time, or energy, or capacity, to face while in treatment and they can come to the forefront for attention and healing after treatment ends.
Are there any tips for breast cancer patients and survivors on dealing with stress and anxiety?
Recognize and honor everything you have faced and been through. Many will have opinions and hopes for how you should be after treatment and that you can go back to your pre-cancer self. You have battled and faced likely one of the biggest challenges of your life that has come with a lot of impact across all aspects of your life as a parent, a spouse, a friend, an employee. Post treatment comes with its own challenges along with stress and anxiety. Meeting with someone to hear you, to support and help you manage all the thoughts and feelings about your experience can help address those feelings of stress and anxiety so that you can recognize it for what it is, and learn strategies to manage challenges as they come up.
Can you tell us about memorable experiences with a BCF patient or Survivors?
I was honored to meet with and record the experiences of 25 women in their breast cancer experience in Cayman for my study and the opportunity to hold and share in their stories with them revealed common experiences. Some of the main themes involved how incredibly difficult it can be to work through the unexpected challenges that occur post treatment and how challenging it can be to manage expectations – of self and from others. The most significant learning came from how important and vital it is to consider an individual as exactly that. We are all made up of a combination of our own identities – cultural, spiritual, age, socioeconomic status, country of origin and so if you know one person with breast cancer, you know one person with breast cancer and that individuality needs to be recognized and honored.
An interesting fact about you?
Supporting others in living their best life is my passion – so much so that I currently work in two professions. Speech therapy to support the gift of communication and counselling to support recognition of the gift of self while learning to accept, honor, and celebrate all you have to offer.