What Are the Emotional Stages of Cancer?

Grief, terror, anger, depression and other overwhelming emotions can all affect cancer patients. Mental health support can be a crucial pillar of cancer treatment to improve quality of life and even physical treatment outcomes.

Cancer not only affects a person’s physical health, but it can affect a person’s emotions. A cancer diagnosis can bring up feelings that people are not used to dealing with, and feelings can be intense. 

People think about and cope with a cancer diagnosis in different ways but may patients go through emotional stages when they are first diagnosed, including: 

• Shock: may range from complete denial to just acting as if nothing is wrong  
• Fear: people are worried they are going to die
• Guilt: people may blame themselves for choices they made in the past that could be related to the diagnosis or feel guilt for burdening loved ones 
• Loss: a person’s sense of self can be taken over by cancer and treatments
• Acceptance: slowly and gradually, people adapt and move forward

Other common emotions experienced by cancer patients include: 

• Feeling overwhelmed
  • Being diagnosed with cancer may make some people feel as if their life is out of control
    • They may wonder if they will live or die
    • Doctor’s appointments and treatments disrupt everyday life
    • Patients may feel hopeless
  • To cope with feeling overwhelmed: 
    • Learn about your cancer and ask questions
    • Stay busy and participate in activities you enjoy
• Anger
  • This may stem from fear, frustration, anxiety, and helplessness
    • It may be directed toward healthy loved ones, caregivers, or even God
  • To cope with anger:
    • Don’t try to pretend everything is ok
    • Talk to loved ones or a counselor
    • Anger can also help motivate people to take positive action
• Stress and anxiety
  • This is normal, but stress can prevent the body from healing 
  • To cope with stress and anxiety:
    • Tell your doctor
    • Talk to a counselor
    • Take stress management classes
• Sadness and depression
  • A loss of health and the life people had before the disease can lead to sadness – this is normal
    • If feelings of sadness don’t go away or interfere with normal activates, it may be depression
  • To cope with depression:
    • Tell your doctor and seek counseling if you experience depression
• Loneliness
  • Cancer patients may start to feel distant from others due to being sick or feeling no one understands what they are going through
  • To cope with loneliness: 
    • Talk with others
    • Join a support group
    • Seek counseling
• Hope and gratitude
  • Hope and gratitude often follow acceptance
  • Chances of living with cancer are higher than they have ever been and many people with cancer lead active lives
  • Cancer may be seen as a “wake up call,” allowing people to enjoy the little things in life
  • Many patients focus on embracing the things that bring them joy