So many things can affect how we feel about our diagnosis and how we approach treatment, both positively and negatively.
In cancer care that seems to be so much more important, as well as all the facts and stats that we have to deal with, there are so many myths and misconceptions. Add to this the scare stories on the internet and sometimes even the way our doctors and nurses communicate with us. But does it make a difference?
Yes it does! This is evident not only from my own cancer journey (just passed 10 years with stage 4), but also the experience from literally thousands of patients I’ve interacted with on Strive, on the BCUK forum and in FB groups.
I’ve tried to distil this in the new white paper with Dr Sumira Riaz: https://bit.ly/nocebopaper
I’d never heard of the nocebo effect until I was researching for this piece, and it seems most doctors haven’t either, yet it’s so important. Is this medicines biggest secret?