A cancer diagnosis unquestionably changes everything—it can turn your world upside down, bringing uncertainty, fear, and an overwhelming mix of emotions. Beyond the physical toll, it can also coincide with financial stress, emotional exhaustion, and difficult decisions that affect every part of your life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know you’re not alone. What you’re going through is incredibly challenging, and it’s okay to seek support.
In my therapy practice, I work with individuals facing cancer, helping them navigate the emotional weight of this journey. Whether you’re struggling with fear, grief, or the challenge of holding onto hope, therapy can offer a safe environment for both comfort and practical support. You don’t have to process your emotions during this tender time alone.
Cancer and Mental Health: Exploring the Emotional Impact
The National Cancer Institute reports that nearly 40.5% of all men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point. Statistics tell one story, but the truth is that individual cancer care is deeply complex and emotionally-charged. No two people respond to their treatment quite the same.
Advanced cancer, in particular, tends to come with deep feelings of fear, loneliness, sadness, and anger. All your feelings are valid- here are some common emotional reactions people with cancer often experience:
Shock and Fear
Many cancer diagnoses are unexpected, leaving you feeling shocked, confused, or even numb. It’s typical to be overwhelmed by the uncertainty of potential treatment options, lifestyle adjustments, and the obstacles associated with managing medical side effects. You might also be concerned about how your family will cope and how your diagnosis might impact their daily life.
If your cancer is deemed incurable, those feelings of shock and fear may intensify. You may feel anxious about how much time you have left or worried about the potential burden your condition might have on others. You may feel afraid about dying too soon or about staying alive in pain for too long.
Guilt and Shame
Cancer patients may experience intensified guilt and shame throughout the various cancer stages. For example, you might blame yourself for engaging in certain lifestyle choices that you believe contributed to your medical condition. You may feel guilty about the emotional or financial strain your illness places on you or your loved ones.
Shame, which often coincides with an underlying belief that says, I am bad, can be particularly complex when it comes to cancer. Shame may also arise from the physical changes associated with cancer treatment, including surgical scars, weight changes, or hair loss.
Difficulties with Identity and Self-Esteem
Cancer treatment coincides with so many unwanted changes, and managing them all simultaneously often feels disorienting. Cancer can call many “given” variables into question- it can force people to change their career trajectory or even retire prematurely completely. It may impact your ability to engage in certain hobbies that once brought you deep joy.
Any of these shifts can challenge your personal sense of identity. The emotional toll of these changes can heighten loss, grief, and a decrease in self-esteem.
Exacerbated Mental Health Symptoms
If you experienced a mental health condition before cancer, treatment may magnify certain symptoms. Furthermore, research also shows that depression and anxiety disorders coexist with about 25% of all cancer patients. Cancer patients may resonate with struggling with:
- limited or no motivation, which can correlate with cancer-related fatigue
- increased irritability for some or most of the day
- persistent sadness or low mood, including feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
- self-harm or thoughts around suicide
- difficult concentrating or focusing on everyday tasks
- panic attacks
- avoidance behaviors, including missing medical appointments or avoiding talking about cancer
Grief and Loss
For most people, cancer evokes the experience of grief. You will likely mourn for life before cancer, and you may also mourn for what may not happen in your future. This grief process is normal and not indicative of anything being wrong with you. However, it can feel painful and lonely, and you may not quite know how to cope with these intense feelings.
Unfortunately, others may discount or avoid your grief by:
- insisting that you act or “think positive” even if you’re in a late stage of cancer or your condition is terminal
- minimizing your emotions with statements like, “At least you’ve lived a good life so far,” or, “There’s so much to be grateful for right now.”
- comparing your struggles to theirs or to someone else’s
- pushing unsolicited advice about alternative treatment options or “miracle” cures
- expecting you to act like your normal self or resume your normal activities
How Therapy Can Support You During Cancer Treatment
If you feel guilty, stressed, or scared right now, please know that you’re not alone. People with cancer deserve deep compassion and recognition. You deserve space to talk about all your emotions and needs, even if they feel difficult to define.
While therapy can’t change your circumstances or even improve your prognosis, it can offer you a valuable sense of support. In addition, if you’re grappling with late-stage cancer, here are some ways therapy may help:
Sense of Support and Recognition
Terminal diagnoses come with a diverse range of feelings, including anger, sadness, fear, guilt, and more. Therapy offers a supportive place for processing these strong feelings and helping you cope with the various fluctuations that can affect your overall well-being.
Support in therapy isn’t about diminishing your emotions. It’s about being seen and heard in your struggles, allowing you to express what’s going on openly.
Improving Coping Strategies
Accepting mortality can be so tender and difficult. Therapy helps people cope with the challenging realities of life, and it can offer you a non-judgmental space to work through your grief and uncertainty. Implementing some practical tips for stress management can help you feel better both physically and emotionally.
Good coping strategies can also provide a sense of relief and comfort. Deliberate self-care, for instance, can make a profound difference in how you process grief and uncertainty. This, in turn, can cultivate a sense of inner resilience amid cancer’s difficulties.
Managing Chronic Pain and Other Physical Symptoms
Chronic pain can impact how you look after your physical health and also magnify emotional distress. Therapy can provide tools to help you manage the emotional difficulties of chronic pain, offering useful techniques grounded in mindfulness and somatic work to reduce stress.
It may be important for you to explore various pain management options during this time. Therapy helps you address both the physical and emotional aspects of chronic pain, helping you develop gentle ways to care for yourself with compassion.
Processing Relational and Existential Concerns
It’s not uncommon for cancer patients to desire to resolve deeply rooted issues toward the end of their lives. For instance, you may find yourself wanting to forgive certain family members or make peace with past mistakes you made. You may also find yourself questioning what happens after you die. These powerful existential concerns often stir up intense emotions, and you might not know quite what to do with them.
Facing the unknown is challenging, but acknowledging your emotions and expressing them can help you navigate this time with more clarity and acceptance. In therapy, you are welcome to work through these questions without pressure or judgment.
Meaning-Making and Legacy Work
Some people find it rewarding to orient themselves toward enhancing their sense of meaning when living with cancer. Therapy can help you reflect on your legacy and determine which activities or relationships may need to be pursued at a deeper level.
This can offer you a sense of personal closure, allowing you to maintain more fulfillment during this challenging time. It can also provide a much-needed sense of distraction while dealing with various appointments or side effects.
Treating Depression and Other Mental Disorders
It’s estimated that nearly 1/4 of all adults experience a mental illness, and about 6% of those individuals experience a serious mental illness. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions, but many people with cancer experience depression, PTSD, and other concerns.
Ideal psychosocial care focuses on how cancer affects both your mind and body. If you feel sad or angry most of the time, treating those underlying emotions may help restore a sense of wellness. While this may not directly change cancer survival, such changes can make this time feel more manageable.
Therapy for Cancer Patients in Austin, TX
Regardless of where you are in the cancer treatment process, your emotional health deeply matters. I would be honored to support you on your journey, whether you’re navigating treatment options or coping with new emotional challenges. You don’t have to go through this experience alone.
I aim to deeply understand the unique needs of cancer and chronic illness patients. For instance, I recognize how and when you may need to miss therapy appointments. I know that energy levels can fluctuate, requiring us to adjust the pacing or needs within therapy. I also appreciate how my clients often benefit from tapping into other support services, including a good support group or holistic health options like acupuncture or massage therapy.
I also treat cancer survivors seeking to cope with life after cancer. Together, we can work toward finding you more wellness and a sense of inner peace amid your uncertainty.
Please reach out today to schedule a consultation.