Coping with the Psychological Effects of Cancer

discuss the effect that illness may have on couple relationships and on one’s partner.

explore how cancer can affect family relationships and the impact on family structure

specifically on relaxation techniques which can help the way you think and feel

techniques that may help you to deal with distressing thoughts and feelings by providing constructive, everyday solutions to emotional problems.

explains why illness has such a strong emotional component. Here, we reflect on the subtle interrelationship between our thoughts, our emotions and the way we act or behave. This chapter also considers the place that illness has in our lives – what meaning we give to it

psychological effects of cancer. Therefore, in Chapter 2 we reflect on the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis. For some people, this can be quite extensive and unsettling. Fear, anger, envy, loss and grief, anxiety, depression, discouragement and loneliness may be experienced at some or many points after diagnosis.

Coping with the psychological effects of cancer does not mean having to cope on your own. Good coping means being open to the support of family members, friends, professional caregivers and those from voluntary organizations too.

key factors are important in adjusting to a cancer diagnosis and its psychological impact on you and your family:

1 good support from family and friends;

2 open communication between people about what is happening and what to prepare for;

3 managing illness, specific symptoms, effects of treatment, stress, worry and uncertainty in practical and effective ways; and

4 an open and supportive relationship with your oncologist and nurses.

Instead, we encourage you to think about the link between thoughts, behaviours and emotions and to make use of practical strategies to deal with daily challenges. We also try to avoid jargon, and to be direct and

While it is true that we can never predict exactly how a person will respond to cancer, we have also seen that there are common challenges which people face