Most women need psychological help in the fight against cancer

In Montenegro, about 70 percent of women believe that they need psychological help in the fight against malignant diseases, and it is necessary to introduce psycho-oncology as a special discipline in the health system, according to research by the non-governmental organization ANIMA.

Research on the needs of female patients was carried out by ANIMA for the pilot project "You are not alone - psychological support for women suffering from malignant diseases of the reproductive organs", which will be submitted today to the Ministries of Health and Labor and Social Welfare, the Board of Health and the Health Insurance Fund.

Psychologist, Ivana Mihović, said today, at the press conference, that the majority of women stated that their family was their main support, and that only three percent received support from friends and medical staff.

According to her, about 70 percent of women believe that they need psychological help in the fight against malignant diseases.

"Approximately, the same number believes that they needed a conversation with women who have already gone through it," said Mihović.

She said that they conducted 90 interviews with women at the Oncology Clinic, and that most of them stated that the conversation made their stay at the Clinic easier, but also that some of the women refused the conversation with the explanation that they already had support.

Mihović believes that legal regulations should be harmonized with European directives in that area, monitoring of all planned activities should be carried out because, as she pointed out, there is a National Program for Cancer Control from 2011 where all activities are prescribed by law, but few of them are implemented.

"It is necessary to introduce a psychologist and psychotherapy into the health system of Montenegro as an equal discipline with the others, to separate psycho-oncology as a separate discipline and to adequately maintain a registry of cancer patients," said Mihović.

He adds that experts should be provided, and that working with clinic employees is just as important as working with patients.

When it comes to the protection of human rights, Mihović said that it is necessary to change the procedure in the process of treating people, to provide all the necessary medicines and to adapt the Social Protection Act to the needs of cancer patients.

"Just as diabetics have their own cards in order to wait less and complete procedures faster, such cards should also be available to patients with malignant diseases," said Mihović.

Psychologist, Ljupka Kovačević, said that the social and political context complicates the treatment of serious diseases and affects the condition of everyone with health and social difficulties.

"The social context is characterized by a patriarchy in which illness is an enemy and a curse, a sick person is tabulated, excluded from the community and discredited with pity", stated Kovačević.

She said that in the patriarchal system, suffering is assigned to women and they are required to be available to others and never be weak.

According to Kovačević, sick women are a difficulty and a nuisance in society.

In such a situation, as she added, patients develop additional fear of powerlessness, loss of self-confidence, feelings of guilt and lack of security.

"Those who are taught to deny often deny themselves the best opportunities for treatment, they rarely ask and mostly remain silent," said Kovačević.

She said that the political context is embodied in the political elite and the system they create and support.

"The political elite is characterized by the absence of ideas for the common good, focus only on their own privileges and arrogance and insensitivity towards people who are in difficulty", said Kovačević.

She believes that, to a large extent, institutions, instead of working in the interests of the sick and being a place of safety, additionally perpetrate violence against people by dehumanizing every space that implies protection.

"The social and health system are based on false support, not on clear procedures and professional help," Kovačević said.

Natalija Krivokapić from Kotor, who was operated on for breast cancer eight years ago, said that she did not have any psychological help during the treatment.

She believes that every woman needs psychological help both during and after treatment for malignant diseases.

"The fact that we are cured does not mean that we do not need further support," said Krivokapić.