<p>A diagnosis of endometrial cancer can have significant impacts on a patient’s mental and emotional well-being. Although survivors show remarkable resilience, psychological and social support, as well as dietary and lifestyle changes (eg, exercise, weight loss, better sleep, and social connection), can help offer patients with endometrial cancer new hope and improve their quality of life.</p>

A diagnosis of a cancer is terrifying, and it is even scarier to have a cancer recurrence. Anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder affect many patients with cancer, and those rates may be higher since the COVID-19 pandemic. How people emotionally cope with having cancer and receiving complex treatments is therefore a really serious concern. Fortunately, death by suicide, at least prior to the pandemic, was remarkably rare in cancer survivors, occurring in fewer than 1% of patients across all cancer types. Interestingly, some patients with cancer experience a shift in perspective wherein their perception of life and their thankfulness seem to help protect them against a poor quality of life despite simultaneously facing existential crises.

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When talking to my patients with endometrial cancer about ways to improve their mental and emotional well-being, I typically hold up 5 fingers and go through the following 5 points. First, diet is probably the most important thing. Patients should avoid animal fat, eat only a little red meat, and follow a Mediterranean diet consisting of a lot of green vegetables and superfoods. Second, I recommend exercising 150 minutes per week. Third, we think that aiming for 7.5 hours of sleep per night is really important for psychological well-being. Unfortunately, insomnia can be a problem among patients with cancer because of the stress of their disease. The fourth way to improve well-being is to have a positive mental outlook. Finally, being loved and having a social network are really important. This kind of social support enables patients to better support themselves, stay informed, know they have options, and connect with help.

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Another factor affecting the mental and emotional well-being of patients with endometrial cancer is that the average weight gain with chemotherapy is approximately 12 to 13 pounds. Patients who feel the stigma of obesity or have a high body mass index may need a lot of support. New drugs that help promote weight loss are really very exciting. Although we have only seen their potential effects on endometrial cancer in animal models to date, we anticipate them transforming patient outcomes. So, it is not only psychological support and exercise programs that can give patients a better chance of controlling their weight but also, potentially, pharmacological interventions. We have really broadened how we think about this and prioritize addressing key lifestyle changes.