It seems as if I’m always asking my patients what they’d like to work on. And whether it’s their sleep patterns, their career goals, their symptoms of anxiety or depression, or something else, my role as a behavioral health clinician is to help motivate them and create behavioral activation.
Having had breast cancer and vitreous macular traction myself for the past few years, I am also keenly aware of my own goals for health and mind-body wellness. This fall, I want to encourage others to focus on cancer prevention (mammogram screenings and early detection save lives!), as well as on self-care strategies: health-care providers need to continue to nurture themselves so they can continue saving others.
Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women and prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men. Add those to all the other cancers that people can get, and the statistics show that 1 in 4 people may get cancer during their lifetime. So what should each of us do to lower our risk? First, get motivated to work on improving your sleep; seven to nine hours of good sleep a night is an essential foundation for health and can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Second, aim for a healthy, nutritious diet. Third, exercise for 30 minutes a day. Sleep, eat, move, repeat. This is the mantra I use daily for myself—so I can help myself and continue to help others.
My patients deserve a healthy therapist. I deserve to be well so I can continue to model wellness and help support others. Cancer does not define me. This October, instead of focusing just on breast cancer awareness, I want to make the case that self-care is not selfish. You are enough. I am enough. My patients remind me daily that they embody strength and resilience as we continue on this journey together.
Jenny Kwak
Stanford, California
