Learning you have cancer is one of the most stressful and emotionally taxing of all life experiences. Many feelings arise, often with an extraordinary intensity. A lung cancer diagnosis might present emotional challenges not experienced by people with other types of cancer. Knowing others share your feelings and that they are normal--even expected--can help you cope with the emotional effects of having lung cancer.
Shock and Denial
According to the American Cancer Society, shock and denial are frequently the first emotional responses after learning you have cancer. It takes time to integrate this life-changing news. You might find yourself wondering whether there has been a mistake. This is a common reaction; it is called denial. It will pass once you have had time to adjust to the fact that you have lung cancer.
Anger
Once the news of your cancer sinks in, anger might take the place of shock. You might be angry with your doctor or your family or whoever happens to be close by. Anger is a normal and predictable emotional effect of learning you have cancer. According to the Lung Cancer Alliance, more than 60 percent of lung cancer occurs in former smokers or people who never smoked. If you are a former smoker, you might be angry because you stopped smoking and you still got lung cancer. If you never smoked, your anger might be even more intense. Working through your anger will allow you to focus your emotional energy on other areas of your life that are important to you.
Fear
Fear is a common emotional thread that runs through the experiences of persons with cancer. You might have fears about the possibility of pain, your financial situation, or how your cancer will affect your work or your loved ones. Most everyone with cancer also fears death. You might find it helpful to establish a support relationship with a confidante outside of your immediate circle of family and friends--a person with whom you can openly discuss your fears.
Guilt and Shame
In a 2008 study published in "Clinical Lung Cancer," Dr. Noelle LoConte and her colleagues reported current and former smokers with lung cancer are more likely to feel guilt and shame about their cancer than are those with breast or prostate cancer. If you find yourself troubled by these feelings, it is important to get help to deal with them so they will not interfere with your relationships or your ability to cope with your current situation.
Sadness and Grief
Coping with lung cancer nearly always involves periods of sadness and grief. Cancer forces you to change your life plans, at least temporarily. Letting go of what you thought your life would be at this point, and possibly having to alter your plans for the future are substantial losses. With loss comes sadness and grief. A support group, counselor, chaplain or other confidante might be able to help you work through your sadness and grief. Let others assist you so that you are able to focus your energies on the things that are important to you.
References
- American Cancer Society: The Emotional Impact of a Cancer Diagnosis
- National Cancer Institute: Adjustment to Cancer--Anxiety and Distress, Normal Adjustment
- Cancer Research UK: About Your Emotions and Cancer
- University of Virginia Health System: The Experience of Grief
- Lung Cancer Alliance: Lung Cancer Facts
