Who Is At Higher Risk To Experience Difficulties In Coping With Cancer?

Some people go through the entire diagnosis and treatment able to maintain a generally positive out-look, managing the medical care while balancing their daily lives. Anyone, however, may experience difficulty in coping. The following situations or characteristics may increase people’s distress:  

  • Past negative experiences with medical treatments or hospitals
  • Recent or unresolved losses (including deaths, divorce, job loss)
  • Loss of a family member (or friend) to cancer or personal history of previous cancer diagnosis
  • Personal or family history of depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric diagnosis
  • History of drug or alcohol abuse
  • Initial cancer diagnosis at an advanced stage
  • Lack of spirituality, religious views, or meaningful life philosophy
  • Particularly stressful lifestyle before diagnosis
  • Financial concerns
  • Generally pessimistic view toward life, or feeling helpless when faced with life challenges
  • Past or current trauma (such as war combat, or physical or sexual abuse)
  • Responsibility for minor children or dependent adults
  • Being elderly or disabled and living alone; lack of social supports; being isolated
  • Relationship or family difficulties

If you identify one or more of these situations and think they will increase your loved one’s distress, con-sider being proactive by seeking advice from a social worker or seeking support and guidance from professionals, through organizations such as CancerCare, Inc. By asking for help in the beginning, you may be able to prevent distress from getting worse by learning how to help your loved one manage his or her feelings; this will help you to solve some of the problems interfering with successful coping.