Effect of Attitudes and Feelings on Cancer
When someone is told they have cancer, they might find themselves thinking:
- Did I bring the cancer on myself?
- Can having a positive attitude improve my quality of life and chance of surviving cancer?
- Can support groups and counseling help me?
- Can I control the cancer by thinking myself well?
Research has looked at these topics. The information below describes what current research shows.
Did I bring the cancer on myself?
Your personality, thoughts, and emotions did not cause your cancer. Research on this topic has not shown a link between personality, thoughts, and overall cancer risk.
Will a positive attitude improve my quality of life and chance of surviving cancer?
People with cancer might hear from others that they should stay positive. But there is no right or wrong way to live with a cancer diagnosis, because it affects everyone differently.
It's important to remember that feeling distress, depression, fear, or anxiety is normal when learning to deal with a serious illness such as cancer. It's also important to recognize and talk about these feelings with someone. Maybe this is a friend, family member, or clergy member. Many people find it helpful to join a support group or seek counseling.
More research is needed to know how a person's attitude might affect their cancer experience. Some studies have shown that keeping a positive attitude does not change a person's chance of survival or the course of their disease. But, there are studies that have shown being optimistic and having a positive attitude can lead to a better quality of life for people with cancer. Many cancer survivors and thrivers believe being optimistic and positive makes their outlook on life better. Some also believe their disease, treatment outcomes, and survival do benefit if they are optimistic and positive.
Can support groups and counseling help me?
Research has not shown that support groups or counseling help people with cancer live longer. However, there are many benefits for people with cancer who participate in support groups.
Research shows that giving people with cancer information in a support group helps reduce tension, anxiety, and tiredness, and may lower the risk of depression. Sharing experiences with others can also improve feelings of well-being and overall quality of life.
Can I control the cancer by thinking myself well?
Research has not shown that techniques like guided imagery, relaxation, or meditation can control cancer growth. However, these techniques can help manage some side effects and emotions related to cancer and cancer treatment. Pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, distress, anxiety, and depression can be helped with these and some other techniques. Managing these side effects and emotions may also improve quality of life.
- Written by
- References
The P站视频 medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Being positive: Is it a benefit or a burden? Accessed at https://www.aicr.org/resources/blog/being-positive-is-it-a-benefit-or-a-burden/ on March 28, 2023.
Baqutayan S. M.How can anxiety be better managed? Depression, anxiety, and coping mechanisms among cancer patients WCRJ 2019; 6: e1350
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_20197_1350.
Charalambous A, Giannakopoulou M, Bozas E, Marcou Y, Kitsios P, Paikousis L. Guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation as a cluster of symptoms management intervention in patients receiving chemotherapy: A randomized control trial. PLoS One. 2016. 11(6):e0156911.
Chen SF, Wang HH, Yang HY, Chung UL. Effect of relaxation with guided imagery on the physical and psychological symptoms of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2015 Nov 28;17(11):e31277.
Coyne JC, Stefanek M, Palmer SC. Psychotherapy and survival in cancer: the conflict between hope and evidence. Psychol Bull. 2007;133:367-394.
de Rooij BH, Thong MSY, van Roij J, Bonhof CS, Husson O, Ezendam NPM. Optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic illness perceptions; quality of life; and survival among 2457 cancer survivors: the population-based PROFILES registry. Cancer. 2018 Sep 1;124(17):3609-3617.
Hu A. Reflections: The value of patient support groups. Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery: Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-head and Neck Surgery. 2017 Apr;156(4):587-588
Imai Y, Onishi C, Bando T. Relationship between Older persons with cancer' Coping Attitudes and Mental Adjustment. J Med Invest. 2020;67(1.2):44-50. doi: 10.2152/jmi.67.44. PMID: 32378617.
Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, DeMeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD. Optimism and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2017;185(1):21-29.
Naseem Z, Khalid R. Positive thinking in coping with stress and health outcomes: Literature review. Journal of Research and Reflections in Education. 2010; 4(1): 42-61.
Ruthig JC, Holfeld B, Hanson BL.The role of positive thinking in social perceptions of cancer outcomes. Psychol Health. 2012; 27:1244-1258.
Last Revised: March 28, 2023
P站视频 medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
P站视频 Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the P站视频.