Life Before Cancer, Life After: Why Mindset and Strengths Matter More Than You Think
Submitted by: Traci McCausland
Our lives are made of a million moments: some are amazing, some mundane, and some change everything. Some of the life-altering ones come on the heels of just three words:
I love you.
I forgive you.
You did it!
You’re having twins!
And the dreaded . . .
You have cancer.
Millions of people who have received a cancer diagnosis report that as they look back at their lives, they see a division: Life Before Cancer, and Life After Cancer. And by after, I mean after the diagnosis, not after cancer is out of their body. To be clear, you are a cancer survivor the day you are diagnosed with cancer. Period. Full stop.
The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer survivor as an individual, “from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life.” Given the vast variety of cancer treatments, timelines, and outcomes, the one thing common across every cancer survivor is the experience of being diagnosed. One day you are just you, and the next day you are a cancer survivor.
I know cancer is not a job you applied for or a label you ever wanted. While not everyone embraces the term survivor, I found that viewing myself this way helped me call on my natural talents and frame my cancer experience with a mindset of agency and choice.
Your Cancer Experience: Cancer Isn’t One-Size-Fits All
Cancer is a complex and unique disease with over 100 different types. Humans are a complex and unique species with over 8 billion of us living on planet Earth. When you combine these two factors, you are left with a huge number of possibilities:
- Different types and stages of cancer
- Different health conditions of the patient
- Different access to medical care
- Different desire for medical interventions
- Different support systems and caregiver situations
Given the complexities of both cancer and humans, how would we expect two very different people to face even the identical cancer diagnosis the same, let alone the broader cancer experience? If there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to performance that captures how all students learn, how all pro golfers swing, or how all actors act, then how can we expect there to be a one-size-fits-all approach to navigating a cancer diagnosis? I don’t think we can, and psychology and mindset research, my cancer journey, and stories I’ve gathered from other survivors help explain why.
How Strengths Shape the Cancer Journey
During my breast cancer treatment of 16 rounds of chemotherapy at UIHC followed by a double mastectomy, I was physically weaker than I had ever been. Yet, using Gallup’s Strengths philosophy and applying my strengths helped me feel mentally and emotionally strong. For the skeptics and eye-rollers, I get it. While I am crystal clear that my tumors didn’t care that I was using my strengths as a competitive advantage, I am also certain that my mindset and energy was improved because of it.
For example, I have a strength that Gallup refers to as “Learner.” Essentially, I have a curiosity around learning and a desire to continuously improve. As a patient, I read a lot about breast cancer. My amazing oncologist, Dr. Sneha Phadke, also shares this Learner strength. When I asked questions about cancer recurrence and nutrition and diet, she referred me to a Clinical Psychologist and an Internist in Holistic Medicine. Whereas some patients are overwhelmed by reading about cancer or going to extra appointments, I was eager to dig into the details. Dr. Phadke was the perfect match for my inquisitive nature.
Gallup’s data shows that, “People who have the opportunity to use their strengths are 3x as likely to report having an excellent quality of life and …using strengths leads to improved health and wellness outcomes. The more hours each day that Americans can use their strengths to do what they do best, the less likely they are to report experiencing worry, stress, anger, sadness, or physical pain during the previous day. The more hours per day adults use their strengths, the more likely they are to report having ample energy, feeling well-rested, being happy, smiling or laughing a lot, learning something interesting, and being treated with respect.”
Playing to your strengths can help you navigate cancer with courage, dignity, and authenticity. It doesn’t mean that it will be easy, or that you won’t face challenges along the road, even when using your strengths. But you can still be engaged and energized when the path is difficult.
Mindset and Cancer
Compelling research has emerged from Stanford’s Mind and Body Lab including a 2023 study, “Changing Cancer Mindsets: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility and Efficacy Trial.” Dr. Carol Dweck, known for coining the term growth mindset, is part of this Stanford team. The study had 361 participants with newly diagnosed, nonmetastatic cancers and half of the patients were randomly assigned to receive training. The online training modules targeted mindsets about cancer and the body, Stanford faculty teachings on mindset, and reflective questions to help patients turn their learnings into action. The other half of the patients did not receive the training.
The researchers found that the Cancer Mindset Intervention (CMI) group who received the training were significantly less likely to report cancer-as-catastrophe and body-as-adversary mindsets. There were also significant increases in their agreement with cancer-as-manageable, body-as-capable, and body-as-responsive mindsets compared to those who did not receive the training. The study results are powerful and concluded that “a brief intervention was effective at improving physical, social, emotional, and functional health–related quality of life, increasing adaptive coping behaviors, and reducing physical system distress in newly diagnosed cancer patients.”
Essentially, even when going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment, patients can learn how to improve their mindset, which in turn will improve their overall health and well-being. I saw this play out in my own experience. While I couldn’t control my diagnosis, I could influence how I responded to it each day during my six-month course of treatment.
Post-Traumatic Growth: Finding Strength You Didn’t Know You Had
During my cancer experience, I was encouraged to read a National Cancer Institute article, Facing Forward: Life After Cancer Treatment. You might find that going through a crisis like cancer gives you renewed strength. “I feel good that I’ve found ways to cope,” one colon cancer survivor said. “I also feel better able to handle any future problems that might come up. I have strength that I didn’t know I had.”
This cancer survivor’s experience is an example of what researchers and psychologists call post-traumatic growth. In his article “Growth after Trauma,” Dr. Tedeschi said, “We’ve learned that negative experiences can spur positive change, including a recognition of personal strength, the exploration of new possibilities, improved relationships, a greater appreciation of life, and spiritual growth.” He elaborated that post-traumatic growth is often seen in people who have endured war, bereavement, natural disasters, illnesses, and serious injuries.
To be clear, I do not fall into the camp that cancer is a gift nor am I encouraging survivors to feel that way. But I do agree with many other survivors that a cancer diagnosis can lead to a shift in perspectives, improved relationships, and clearer priorities.
“You Beat Cancer by How You Live”
Reading these fascinating examples of cancer and mindset research reassured me that we can take some control of our cancer experience through our actions and approach to mindset. One of the most powerful quotes about cancer comes from ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, who battled appendiceal cancer and passed away at the age of 49:
“You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”
This National Cancer Survivors Day, we honor the over 18.6 million in the United States and over 175,290 living in Iowa. While they share a diagnosis, they have their own story. Each journey is unique. Each survivor is unique. Maybe we can “beat cancer,” the most common rallying cry, in our own ways and on our own terms. I’m pretty sure we can—because both Stuart and I already did.
About the Author: Traci McCausland is a breast cancer survivor and founder of Follow Your Strengths. This blog is an excerpt from the author’s new book Surviving Cancer with Your Strengths: Discover Your Talents, Build Your Mindset, and Personalize Your Cancer Path. She is also the President of the American Cancer Society Board in Iowa and the State Lead Ambassador for ACS CAN.