Revised March 2007
“Fear, anger, sadness, happiness, depression, jealousy…, you name it and I felt it. It was important for me to hear from lots of other people that that was OK and they had felt some of the same things at the same time that I did. It was also great to know there were ways and people that could help with these feelings”.
There is no “right” way to feel when going through this process. In this section, we provide you with some information about the most common emotions people have told us they experienced. It’s important to know when these emotions are impacting your ability to cope and carry on and what you can do about it.
When I might need help?
Whenever you or those around you notice that your emotions are impacting your health or your ability to do what you need to, consider getting some support.
For example, if your fear or anxiety is so high you start to cancel some of your appointments at the Centre, your emotions are getting in the way of what you need to do.
We have included some information that may be helpful for you to understand the emotional impact cancer may have and what you can do about it:
We have also included below 2 basic assessments that might help you decide if you need support (Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology, The emotional facts of life with cancer, 2005, Canada). One is for the patient
and one is for family members, friends or caregivers.
This information is also available on the following website: www.capo.ca
What’s available in the cancer centre I go to?
Our Patient and Family Counselling Departments are available to assist you in determining if you may need additional support and finding the best resources that match your needs. Some of the resources that might be useful for you include:
What’s available in my community?
Take a minute to think about what supports you already use when you have had concerns or stressors in the past. This might include a counsellor, your family doctor, other support groups, your spiritual advisor and your family and friends.
It may be that your local library has resources you can use to learn about a certain issue or ways of coping. For some, the internet can be a practical and quick way to learn.