Summer is often associated with the idea of holidays. Images of the sea, travel, and carefree moments fill our daily lives, creating the impression that rest requires a suitcase, a destination, and distance from obligations.
However, for cancer patients who are undergoing treatment, recovering from surgery, or waiting for test results, holidays are often not possible. Medical appointments, treatments, side effects, physical fatigue, and uncertainty about one’s health can make travelling difficult or even impossible.
And yet, the need for rest does not diminish. On the contrary, it often becomes even more important.
Perhaps, then, it is worth redefining what a “holiday” means. Not as travelling somewhere else, but as the ability to pause, even briefly, the relentless cycle of stress, worry, and constant vigilance that often accompanies serious illness. It can be a reminder that life is not only about the disease.
Rest is not a luxury — it is a need
Recent scientific literature shows that people need periods of recovery in order to maintain psychological and physical balance. Recovery is not simply “resting”; it is a process through which the body reduces the physiological and psychological burden caused by chronic stress.
In psychology, the term psychological detachment is used to describe the mental ability to step away from sources of pressure. This means allowing oneself, even for a short while, not to think constantly about what feels overwhelming.
Research by Sonnentag, Binnewies, and Mojza (2010) showed that psychological detachment is associated with lower emotional exhaustion, better mood, and greater resilience in everyday life. Similarly, Fritz and colleagues (2010) found that people who are able to mentally disengage from stress experience higher levels of well-being, energy, and functioning.
Although these studies were mainly conducted among workers, the underlying mechanism applies to every person: when the brain remains in a constant state of alert, it struggles to recover its strength.
In this sense, these small pauses matter not because they make us “forget” the illness, but because they give the brain an opportunity to step out, even temporarily, of a continuous state of alarm.
When illness takes over every thought
The experience of cancer is not limited to treatment days. It often affects everyday life as a whole. Thoughts about tests, medical decisions, bodily changes, work, family, and the future may accompany a person from morning to night.
This constant mental vigilance is exhausting in itself.
International guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recognise that psychological distress is a common part of the cancer experience and recommend integrating psychosocial support into overall patient care. Likewise, guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) emphasise that mental health care and quality of life are essential parts of cancer management.
Holidays are not always about travelling
It is easy to believe that rest requires a trip. Yet scientific research suggests that the greatest benefit of holidays does not necessarily come from the destination itself, but from a change of pace and temporary distance from stressors.
Nawijn and colleagues (2010) found that people tend to feel greater well-being shortly before and during holidays, but that this feeling often fades relatively soon after they return.
This finding reminds us of something important: psychological renewal does not depend only on a few days of holiday each year, but also on the small moments of relief that we can create in everyday life.
For someone undergoing treatment, these moments may be even more valuable.
What does it mean to “pause” as a cancer patient?
To pause does not mean ignoring reality or neglecting one’s health. It means allowing oneself to remember, even for a little while, that life is not only about illness.
This may include:
- a few quiet minutes on the balcony or in the garden,
- a short walk in nature, when possible,
- listening to favourite music,
- reading a book,
- engaging in a creative activity,
- spending time with people who make us feel safe,
- a few minutes of relaxation or mindful breathing, when appropriate for one’s health condition.
These moments do not change the diagnosis. But they can change the experience of the day.
The importance of quality of life
In modern oncology, quality of life is now considered a key therapeutic goal. Treating the disease is not enough; it is equally important for the person to maintain as much functionality, autonomy, emotional balance, and sense of meaning as possible.
This importance is also reflected in the value framework for cancer treatments developed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). According to this framework, the value of a treatment is not determined solely by its effectiveness, but also by its toxicity, its impact on quality of life, and the personal priorities and preferences of the patient.
This highlights the importance of personalised, patient-centred care, in which the person’s everyday experience is an essential part of the therapeutic process.
Within this perspective, small moments of pause, the continuation of pleasant activities, and connection with what brings joy are not secondary aspects of life. They are meaningful elements that contribute to preserving quality of life. They are not luxuries, signs of weakness, or attempts to avoid reality. They are forms of self-care.
The same applies to family caregivers, who often experience high levels of emotional and physical burden. Taking some time for their own rest is not selfishness; it is a necessary condition for continuing to support their loved one in a meaningful way.
The value of a small pause
The experience of cancer often extends beyond the limits of the disease itself, affecting a person’s self-image, social roles, and daily life. Intense psychological distress and uncertainty can gradually allow the illness to occupy more and more space in life.
In this context, psycho-oncological education appears particularly important. Its aim is to help patients and family caregivers understand the emotional reactions that naturally accompany diagnosis and treatment, develop more effective coping strategies, and actively participate in treatment decisions.
In this way, the sense of control and self-efficacy is strengthened, while also preserving the sense that a person remains something more than their illness.
When health does not allow for travel, it is easy to feel deprived of something important. Yet perhaps the essence of a holiday lies not in the distance we travel, but in the distance we allow ourselves to take from stress.
To “pause” does not mean to stop being a patient. It means allowing oneself, even for a little while, to be something more than the illness.
Perhaps, in the end, the most meaningful holidays are not those that take us far from home, but those that allow us to rest the body, calm the mind, and turn toward ourselves with greater care.
A peaceful sunlit balcony with a chair, a book, a cup, flowers, and an olive tree, illustrating the importance of small moments of rest and self-care during cancer treatment.
By Marilia Barka
Psychology Student
Kapa3 Volunteer
