Mental Health Support for People With Metastatic Breast Cancer

If you’ve been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), you may feel like you’re riding an emotional roller coaster. You may be angry, scared, anxious, depressed, lonely, or all of the above.

“Cancer is a huge bomb that goes off in the lives of [those] who are diagnosed,” Breastcancer.org Community Member DoggieBytes noted. Recognizing it’s OK to not be OK and sharing these feelings can be healing.

As you experience all the emotions that come with the diagnosis, it may help to keep several things in mind:

Metastatic breast cancer affects everyone differently. There’s no right or wrong way to feel. You’re entitled to your emotions and to express them the way that works best for you.

Your mental health can be just as important as your physical health. The way you feel mentally and emotionally affects your physical health. Studies show that people with metastatic cancer live longer when their mental health is better. When you feel well emotionally, you have better quality of life. You're also more motivated to care for yourself and follow treatment recommendations and make lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise. When you feel better emotionally you're also more motivated to do the things that bring you joy.

Mental health services can help you work through your feelings. Many cancer centers consider mental health support to be an essential part of metastatic cancer care and have professionals who can offer support and counseling. Some centers also have metastatic breast cancer support groups for people who want to talk with others having similar experiences.

There are different types of mental health support. To figure out what’s best for you, you may have to try out different programs.

Individual therapy is typically one-on-one support that is tailored to your needs. Individual therapy can be offered by a number of licensed health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. Experts recommend trying to find a mental health professional with experience treating people with metastatic cancer.

Be cautious about consulting someone who isn’t a licensed professional who may have limited expertise and perhaps earned a certificate in a brief training experience.

The professional you work with may use a variety of techniques, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and medicines.

Support groups and group counseling bring together people who’ve been diagnosed with similar conditions. Group counseling is led by a licensed mental health professional. Support groups may have a mental health professional as a facilitator or may be led by a peer, another person with metastatic disease. When you're living with metastatic disease, it's often most helpful to join a group specifically for people with MBC rather than a general cancer or breast cancer support group because people with MBC have different challenges.

Both group counseling and support groups offer people a safe space to share and vent. Group counseling also can help people develop new skills to manage challenges.

Finding mental health support may seem daunting when you’re living with metastatic breast cancer, but there are resources that can help you.

If you’re receiving your cancer treatment at a hospital or cancer center, ask your doctor if the facility offers in-house counseling services. You also can ask for referrals to oncology mental health resources in the community, including outside counselors.

Several organizations offer helplines, including the Cancer Support Community (1-888-793-9355), the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, (1-866-276-7443), and the American Cancer Society (1-800-227-2345).

Many therapists offer both in-person and virtual therapy, which can give you more options. Some psychologists are licensed to practice in multiple states through PSYPACT, which has a map you can check to see if your state participates.

If you've connected with a palliative care team, there will usually be at least one person, such as a psychologist or a social worker, who can provide counseling.

Breastcancer.org offers several virtual support groups for people touched by metastatic breast cancer, including a support group for partners of people with metastatic disease.

The Breastcancer.org Community discussion boards and other online support communities also offer virtual support from members who have helpful insights to share. The Just Diagnosed With Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC; Stage IV)? Start Here post has threads based on the location of metastases and treatments you may be considering or receiving, as well as discussions about fitness, working with MBC, and tips for people who’ve just been diagnosed.

“Remember this: you are not alone,” wrote Community Member barbe1958. “Many women have blazed this trail ahead of you and can be the best support you’ve ever had.”

Before you schedule any mental health support appointments, it’s a good idea to call your health insurance provider to confirm exactly what your plan covers. Some plans only cover a certain number of visits per year and may require you to get the visits pre-authorized before they pay for them. 

If you’re worried about the cost of a mental health visit, you may be able to find a provider who adjusts their fees based on your annual income. Your cancer center also may offer in-house services as part of your care.