Living with Cancer

You may feel overwhelmed by appointments, anxious about the future, or isolated from those who cannot fully understand what you’re going through.

For some, even after treatment ends, worries about recurrence or adjusting to life post-treatment can linger.

These reactions are normal, but when distress starts to affect daily life, relationships, or recovery, therapy can offer a safe space to process and cope.

What is the Psychological Impact of Cancer?

Cancer does not only affect the body - it can impact every part of life, from mood and self-image to relationships and identity.

The psychological impact varies widely: some people feel resilient and focused, while others experience intense distress.

Even within the same family, responses can differ. Common difficulties include anxiety, low mood, changes in self-esteem, or feeling disconnected from others.

For many, the uncertainty itself, not knowing what comes next, can be as hard to bear as the illness.

Symptoms of Psychological Distress in Cancer

• Anxiety, panic, or constant worry about treatment or prognosis

• Low mood, hopelessness, or loss of interest in activities

• Changes in sleep or appetite

• Feeling isolated or misunderstood

• Anger, frustration, or guilt

• Body image concerns after surgery or treatment

• Fear of recurrence or medical procedures

• Strain on relationships or family dynamics

Causes and Risk Factors

The emotional toll of cancer depends on many factors, including the stage and type of illness, treatment side effects, previous mental health history, level of support, and personal coping style.

Unresolved trauma or earlier losses may resurface during illness, and ongoing uncertainty can make it difficult to feel safe or in control.

How Therapy Can Help with Cancer

Therapy provides a confidential and compassionate space to express the full range of emotions that cancer brings, even those that feel hard to share with family or friends.

For some, therapy focuses on managing anxiety, panic, or fear of recurrence; for others, it is about making sense of loss, change, or uncertainty. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can support you in challenging catastrophic thoughts and finding steadier ground, while Acceptance and Commitment Therapy may help you live more fully alongside uncertainty.

Compassion-focused approaches can reduce guilt, shame, or self-criticism, particularly if you feel you should be coping “better.” 

Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) is helpful in contexts when cancer has affected your relationships, sense of identity, or the way you connect emotionally with others.

By exploring these patterns, DIT can help you understand how past experiences shape current struggles, and create new ways of relating that bring more support and closeness during a difficult time.

EMDR can also be used when medical procedures or past experiences have left a traumatic imprint.

Beyond techniques, therapy offers a steady, supportive relationship where your experience is heard and validated, helping you cope with treatment, adjust to change, and reconnect with the values and relationships that matter most.