Is this normal, or is he going crazy on top of having cancer?
Every individual’s reaction to cancer is just that— individual. People have both negative and positive reactions to adversity, including a diagnosis of cancer. These reactions may include the following:
- Asking himself why he got cancer
- Feeling more isolated and alone
- Feeling vulnerable and/or less able to control aspects of his life
- Being less able to concentrate
- Blaming himself for his diagnosis
- Viewing his body and himself differently
- Experiencing changes in relationships with family members and friends
- Redefining life priorities
- Reevaluating spiritual beliefs
Common emotions felt by people who have been diagnosed with cancer include uncertainty and fear of the future, of pain, of loss, of death; anger, either diffuse (general) or directed at particular situations or people; guilt, for believing they are responsible for putting their families through their diagnosis, and for “imposing” on others for care and support; and love and gratitude toward people close to them. A cancer diagnosis often brings people closer to their loved ones.
Many patients tell us that they feel more connected and that they love their families even more than before their diagnosis as a result of reevaluating life’s priorities. For many people, priorities change after their diagnosis, allowing them to focus on spending time with their significant others and on their love for one another.