When it comes to cancer treatment, many people only focus on physical aspects such as tumor size and test indicators, often neglecting that scientific psychological intervention is just as important as physical treatment in the long journey of fighting cancer.
Agony: being trapped by negativity
Before meeting Dr. Zheng Huining from the Psychological Counseling Department of Hainan Cancer Hospital, Ms. Zhao from Xinjiang had been suffering from insomnia for four years.
Four years ago, Ms. Zhao, aged 60, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a hematological malignancy. Since then, she has undergone prolonged chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, and has been plagued by issues such as lung infections, bone pain, and insomnia.
What is even more unbearable than physical pain is the anxiety in her heart. Ms. Zhao admitted that since the day of diagnosis, she had not slept a single peaceful night. The worry about the deterioration of her condition and the confusion about long-term treatment had kept her trapped in negative emotions all day long.
In fact, the psychological issues faced by cancer patients are often more subtle and less noticeable than the tumor disease itself. According to the latest large-scale research data released in 2025-2026, approximately one-third of cancer patients experience significant psychological distress, with anxiety and depression affecting about one-quarter of patients and sleep disorders affecting about one-third of patients.
Dr. Zheng Hui Ning stated that long-term anxiety and depression can suppress the body's immune function, making tumor cells more active and exacerbating the side effects of chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Negative emotions can also reduce treatment compliance, leading patients to resist treatment and delay follow-up examinations, forming a vicious cycle of "disease fluctuation - emotional breakdown - physical deterioration".
In order to recuperate her health, Ms. Zhao traveled to Hainan and received treatment at Hainan Cancer Hospital. However, the unfamiliar environment and loneliness in a foreign land further exacerbated her anxiety. Her already severe insomnia worsened, leaving her in a state of mental exhaustion, with dizziness and fatigue when walking.
Professional: Standardized treatment unties the four-year "knot in the heart"
With a mindset of giving it a try, Ms. Zhao took the initiative to contact Dr. Zheng Huining at the psychological counseling clinic. Ms. Zhao recalled that during their first meeting, Dr. Zheng did not rush to prescribe medication. Instead, she chatted with her like an old friend who had not seen each other for a long time. "I don't know how to describe that feeling, but it was particularly warm in my heart," Ms. Zhao said with emotion. "After chatting with Dr. Zheng, I felt much more relaxed. Even before taking any medication, I was already half-healed."
Dr. Zheng Huining communicates with patients
For many years, she had been resistant to taking sedatives to help her sleep. Instead of forcefully persuading her, Dr. Zheng Huining explained patiently, "If you don't sleep well for a long time, your heart and immune system will be affected, and your physical burden will only become heavier and heavier. The side effects of poor sleep are far greater than those of medication. Medication is a tool to help you get through difficulties, not an enemy. We will slowly adjust and find a method that suits you."
The simple words resolved Ms. Zhao's concerns and resistance, and she began to try cooperating with the treatment. That night, she slept soundly for nine hours. It was the first time in four years that she had slept well.
After a period of professional psychological treatment and targeted medication intervention by Dr. Zheng Huining, combined with comprehensive diagnosis and treatment by multidisciplinary experts at the hospital's Integrative Oncology Center, Ms. Zhao's physical and mental state have undergone significant improvement: her blood pressure and heart rate have stabilized, discomfort symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue have significantly improved, and her mental outlook has taken on a new look.
Although she is still undergoing anti-cancer treatment, she has learned scientific self-psychological regulation and is able to calmly face the fluctuations in her condition.
Breaking the misconception: these tumor patients should receive psychological intervention in a timely manner
Dr. Zheng Huining stated that in clinical practice, many people have misunderstandings about psychological intervention for cancer patients: they believe that psychological counseling is just "chatting and ideological work", while others think that "only mentally ill people need to see a psychiatrist..." These misconceptions have caused many cancer patients to miss the best opportunity for psychological intervention.
Dr. Zheng Huining suggests that tumor patients should seek professional psychological intervention in a timely manner when experiencing the following situations:
Persistent
sleep disorders: insomnia, early awakening, excessive dreaming, and easy
arousal, lasting for more than two weeks without relief, and difficult to fall
asleep relying on self-regulation;
Persistent
depression/anxiety and irritability: Feeling down and gloomy all day long,
completely losing enthusiasm for things that used to interest you, frequently
falling into pessimistic and despairing moods; or experiencing inexplicable
anxiety, irritability, and proneness to anger and crying, with extreme mood
swings that are difficult to calm down;
Physical
discomfort accompanied by psychological issues: There is no clear organic
lesion, yet symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, anorexia, and
muscle tension persist. These symptoms are often triggered by anxiety and
excessive stress, and conventional physical treatments fail to alleviate them.
Resistance to treatment and self-isolation: Refusing chemotherapy, follow-up examinations, and other conventional treatments, unwilling to communicate with family members and medical staff, deliberately isolating oneself, and even harboring negative thoughts of giving up treatment.
Long-term fear and excessive worry: Constantly worrying about the deterioration, recurrence, and metastasis of the disease, trapped in persistent fear, unable to maintain normal routines and rest, and experiencing high mental tension.
Expert Introduction
Zheng Huining
Attending psychiatrist
National psychotherapist
Medical expertise
Proficient in psychological therapies such as psychoanalysis, cognitive behavioral therapy, personal meaning-centered therapy, and narrative therapy; experienced in counseling adolescents with emotional issues, parent-child communication, emotional and stress management, and oncology psychology. Capable of diagnosing and treating general psychological issues, severe psychological issues, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, neurosis, and other related mental health conditions.
Clinic Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday