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Coping with Cancer: Managing Emotional Effects

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Managing Emotional Effects

Manage depression, anxiety, and other emotional effects, and learn how to support people with cancer.

On this page:
Depression
Confusion and Memory Problems
Adjusting to Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Spirituality
General Coping Information

Depression

  • Depression (PDQ®)
    [ patient ] [ health professional ]
    Expert-reviewed information summary about the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of depression in adults and children who have cancer.

Confusion and Memory Problems

  • Cognitive Disorders and Delirium (PDQ®)
    [ patient ] [ health professional ]
    Expert-reviewed information summary about cognitive disorders and delirium as complications of cancer or its treatment. Supportive care and pharmacologic approaches to the management of cognitive disorders and delirium are discussed.
  • Memory Changes
    Practical information about what causes memory changes during chemotherapy. Get helpful tips and learn what questions to ask your doctor.

Adjusting to Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

  • Adjustment to Cancer: Anxiety and Distress (PDQ®)
    [ patient ] [ health professional ]
    Expert-reviewed information summary about the difficult emotional responses many cancer patients experience. This summary focuses on normal adjustment issues, psychosocial distress, and adjustment disorders.
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PDQ®)
    [ patient ] [ health professional ]
    Expert-reviewed information summary about post-traumatic stress disorder in cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their family members. Assessment and treatment of this disorder are discussed.

Spirituality

  • Spirituality in Cancer Care (PDQ®)
    [ patient ] [ health professional ]
    Expert-reviewed information summary about the influence of spirituality and religion on individuals who have cancer. Various approaches for management and intervention are discussed.

General Coping Information

  • Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer
    Sets of questions, organized by topic, that cancer patients may want to ask their doctors or other members of their health care team to learn more about their cancer and what to expect.
  • Palliative Care in Cancer
    A fact sheet that describes the role of palliative care, which is comfort care given to a patient who has a serious or life-threatening disease, such as cancer, from the time of diagnosis and throughout the course of illness.
  • Taking Time: Support for People with Cancer
    Information that addresses the feelings and concerns of people with cancer and their families.
  • Coping with Advanced Cancer
    Information for people with cancer who have gone through treatment, and perhaps, recurrence of cancer, for whom a cure or long-term remission is no longer likely. Discusses physical and emotional issues, and living the rest of life to its fullest and with meaning.
  • When Cancer Returns
    Information regarding cancer recurrence, communicating with your health care team as well as your family and friends, managing side effects, and coping issues.