Cancer Can Be Emotionally as Well as Physically Devastating

Facing a serious, painful, and potentially fatal illness?

Source: Adrian Swancar / Unsplash

When Josh first heard his doctor speak the dreaded word “cancer,” his first reaction was disbelief. “How could I have cancer? I’m in my early fifties, in great health, and have a great life!”

Unfortunately, before long, the reality of Josh’s illness struck him.

As Josh saw with increasing clarity the long road ahead of pain, suffering, and inability to enjoy the activities that for so many years had given him both pleasure and a sense of purpose, an intense wave of anxiety swept over him. Like a man standing on the edge of the shore who had been knocked over by an unexpected strong wave, Josh felt himself losing his emotional balance, overcome by dread and fright.

Next came the anger. “Why me?”

And then the strongest wave yet hit Josh, a wave of hopelessness and helplessness. Josh’s wife said to him, “You sound so depressed! That’s not like you!”

Josh agreed. Depression was not an emotional challenge he had faced before, or knew how to deal with now.

Was Josh’s case unique?

Josh’s reaction to his cancer diagnosis is likely to feel all too familiar to anyone who has been faced with this illness.

As Annika Ellis, an advocacy associate from the cancer advocacy organization Mesothelioma Hope, explains, “While cancer discussions often center on physical health and treatment options, it’s equally important to address the mental health needs of patients. A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, leading to a range of emotions, such as fear, anxiety, and even depression. This is why mental health support is crucial for enhancing the overall well-being of those battling cancer.”

All too often, Annika went on to explain, “Cancer patients’ emotional needs get ignored by the treating medical professionals. They most likely assume that as the cancer gets treated, the clients will feel better emotionally as well.”

What are negative reciprocal interaction cycles?

While there is definitely some truth to the assumption that curing a cancer will cure the depression triggered by cancer, the opposite also can be true. The presence of cancer can create a negative reciprocal interaction cycle. That is, the illness creates depression, which in turn exacerbates the illness, which in turn makes the illness worse, and so the cycle spins.

Thus, the thoughts and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness generated by depression actually hamper the body’s will and ability to fight off an illness, including cancer.

What has medical research found about the impacts of depression on the effectiveness of cancer treatment?

A landmark 2010 study by Pinquart & Duberstein reviewed 76 prior studies investigating whether depression hindered cancer treatment. The findings were striking. Depression predicted a significantly higher risk that the patient would die, even after controlling for the type and severity of the cancer.

In the subsequent decade and a half, more studies have detailed similar findings.

Most recently, Ungvari et al. (2025/2026) reviewed 65 recent studies. They found that depression increased the rate of patients dying from cancer by between 23 percent and a whopping 83 percent.

The good news

Where, then, can cancer patients and their families find emotional support and treatment? Organizations like Mesothelioma Hope, where Annika Ellis works, and other online resources can help.

In addition, learn about self-help anti-depression treatments for interventions that do not require adding anti-depressant medication to a body that is already medically vulnerable. I explain several of these techniques in my book Prescriptions Without Pills: For Relief From Depression, Anger, Anxiety, and More, as these interventions may be able to make a massive impact on your body’s ability to fight cancer—and win the battle.

In sum, if you are struggling with cancer, get the information you need to address the emotional challenges that this illness almost inevitably triggers.

Information is power. Get it, and use it!