Common Emotional Responses to Cancer Treatment

Although much is written of the physical side effects associated with the treatment of cancer, many people are aware of the full scale of emotional impact cancer treatments can have on a patient. Such treatments can result in a broad spectrum of emotions, from fear to elation and everything in between.The primary concern of all cancer treatments is to rid the body of a cancerous growth. It's important though to pay close attention to the emotional effects of the illness too. Failure to do so can lead to depression and a number of other mental health conditions. Below is a look at some of the more common emotional responses associated with the treatment of cancer:FEARMany feelings experienced during the treatment of cancer can be likened to those associated with the initial diagnosis. The most obvious of these is fear. It's completely natural to be scared of what is an extremely potent disease, and this doesn't necessarily end once you've gone under the knife. Even if surgery or chemical therapies are successful, many survivors fear that the cancer will return. This fear often manifests itself in a variety of ways, including fearing for the future of loved ones and worrying that friends and colleagues will treat you differently.