To emphasize on the suffering of women with breast cancer (BC), it is
necessary to identify and deeply understand many aspects of BC etiology,
development, and complex management. However, the strategies for achieving these
goals for individual patients often need to be refocused, or redirected, based on
personal expectations, needs, and circumstances that can differ considerably among
women with very aggressive BC, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The
main goal of cognitive-behavioral interventions is to change some specific thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors and teach constructive coping skills and behavioral
modifications, which will aid in building an individual activity plan, coordinated with
cancer-related therapies.
This chapter will present the concept of the “third-wave” cognitive and behavioral
therapies (CBT) and the importance of psychological processes of change, in
supportive care interventions, for patients with TNBC. Adding such processes of
change should facilitate the development of personalized care solutions for better
outcomes for many patients suffering from BC, despite their poor prognosis. This
should encourage the patients, caregivers, and their medical care teams to learn, and
then, apply these safe interventions in their individualized contexts.
Keywords: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Cognitive and behavioral therapies (CBT), Psychological processes of change, Psychological flexibility, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
