UConn Health Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/a> she was a patient of Dr. Susan Tannenbaum Chief, Division of Hematology\/Oncology, and Dr. Robert Dowsett, chief of UConn\u2019s Division of Radiation Oncology for her treatments.<\/p>\n\u201cI am appreciative of everyone at UConn Health,\u201d says Theriault. \u201cCancer is a scary diagnosis and when you get it, your mind starts spinning \u2018what will I do?\u2019 \u2018How do I prepare my family?\u2019 and thoughts of a bad ending\u201d<\/p>\n
During her cancer treatments, Theriault lost two cousins to breast cancer, a sister to uterine cancer, and a brother-in-law to bladder cancer. She became overwhelmed with the loss and her cancer treatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was having panic attacks and anxiety and I just couldn\u2019t seem to quiet my brain,\u201d says Theriault.<\/p>\n
She was referred to Judith Cooney PhD, health psychologist and associate professor of Psychiatry at the Cancer Center.<\/p>\n
Cooney practices health psychology, a specialty area that applies psychological principles and evidence-based treatments to help manage the psychosocial impact of medical and health problems and to change health behaviors.<\/p>\n
This was Theriault\u2019s first experience with psychotherapy.\u00a0 Her coping mechanism was food, most notably chocolate until Cooney provided her with new coping mechanisms.<\/p>\n
She keeps her sneakers by the door and walks every day. She also listens to the Benedictine Monks chanting on a DVD which reminds her of church and calms her.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to get outside, I walk a mile or two and when I get home I am motivated to continue to practice healthy habits,\u201d says Theriault.<\/p>\n
Cancer survivorship is a good time to adopt healthy behaviors to help prevent cancer recurrence and promote general health.\u00a0 Health psychology helps patients modify their behaviors to focus on wellness and health. Cooney provides a range of health promotion treatments for cancer survivors, including wellness programs (incorporating stress management, movement, and healthy eating), behavioral weight management, and nicotine and tobacco treatment.<\/p>\n
Theriault\u2019s cancer treatments ended in 2019 and she still sees Dr. Cooney to help her cope and transition to survivorship.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Cooney helps you focus on living in the moment rather than worrying about the future or survivorship,\u201d says Theriault.<\/p>\n
Once she came to terms that she was going to survive, she appreciated everything and every day.<\/p>\n
While reoccurrence is always in the back of her mind.\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t dwell on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to treat yourself well and do things that make you feel good,\u201d says Theriault.<\/p>\n
Watch the video below to learn more about Sandra and the Cancer Survivorship Program at UConn Health.<\/p>\n