Who is at higher risk to experience difficulties in coping with cancer?

32.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 outlook,
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, consider
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.