Cancer Is Not Only a Physical Illness — The Invisible Prescription of Emotional and Psychological Support
Psychological support is an integral part of cancer treatment, helping Hong Kong patients and their families cope with fear, loneliness, and anxiety.
Free cancer support
Cancer Diagnosis: A Psychological Storm Triggered by a Medical Report
In Hong Kong, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year (Hong Kong Cancer Registry, 2022). Behind every statistic is a patient who has just endured a sudden psychological shock.
At the moment of diagnosis, patients commonly experience what feels like a “bolt from the blue”: denial, fear, anger, depression, and loneliness often appear in waves or simultaneously (Kübler-Ross & Kessler, 2005).
Local research shows that 40% of cancer patients experience moderate to severe anxiety or depression in the first year after diagnosis (Lam et al., 2018). This is not simply “being emotional” — it is a clinical reality: psychological distress directly reduces treatment adherence and slows recovery (Lebel et al., 2013).
The Emotional Burden Patients Carry
The most common psychological struggles among cancer patients include:
- Fear and uncertainty: worry about treatment failure, recurrence, or death
- Depression and helplessness: feeling like a burden to the family
- Isolation: believing no one truly understands; reluctance to express inner pain
These emotions do not stay “in the mind” — they manifest physically. Anxiety and depression are proven to worsen fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain perception (Penedo et al., 2007).
The Shadow Pressure on Families
In Hong Kong’s public healthcare model, most cancer treatments are delivered in day hospitals. After returning home, patients rely heavily on family members for support. Studies show that around 40% of long-term caregivers also suffer from anxiety or depression (Chan et al., 2021).
Caregivers often experience a painful cycle of “wanting to help but feeling powerless.”
For example:
- preparing a nutritious meal, only for the patient to vomit due to chemotherapy
- trying to assist with medication, but facing emotional resistance
Both sides end up exhausted and frustrated. This highlights an important truth:
psychological support should be given not only to patients, but also to caregivers.
Why Psychological Support Is Part of Treatment
Global and local evidence consistently shows that:
- Patients receiving psychotherapy show significantly improved treatment adherence (Rock et al., 2012).
- Mindfulness practice can reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality (Carlson et al., 2016).
- Spiritual and group support can enhance patients’ sense of control over their lives (WHO, 2020).
This means psychological care is not an “optional extra” —
it is a therapeutic component, just like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy.
What Can Patients Do?
1. Express feelings openly
Instead of suppressing emotions, share honestly with family or trusted companions.
Example:
“I couldn’t sleep because I’m worried about tomorrow’s test results. Can you sit with me for a while?”
2. Learn practical mental tools
- Mindful breathing: 5 minutes of slow, focused breathing
- Cognitive reframing: Replace “I will definitely relapse” with
“There is relapse risk, but I am actively treating and monitoring it.”
3. Seek connection instead of isolation
Join support groups or consult a clinical psychologist to avoid “fighting alone in silence.”
What Can Family Members Do?
1. Practice empathetic listening
Do not rush into advice — first acknowledge the emotion.
Example:
“I hear that you’re really scared. It must feel very heavy.”
2. Build caregiver support
- Schedule regular respite to avoid burnout
- Join caregiver workshops or peer groups
3. Share information load
Attend medical consultations together, help digest key points, and reduce the patient’s mental burden.
Hong Kong’s Challenges — and Possible Solutions
Current Challenges
- Short consultation time in public hospitals = little space for psychological education
- Stigma: “Seeing a psychologist means I am weak”
- Fragmented caregiver support resources
Possible Solutions
| Level | Suggested Action |
|---|---|
| Policy | Integrate distress screening (e.g., Distress Thermometer) into oncology workflow. |
| Healthcare | Adopt multidisciplinary care teams (oncology + psychology + nutrition + social work). |
| Community | Expand district health centres and NGO-based supportive care. |
| Culture | Destigmatise: promote “psychological support = active coping”. |
Policy
Integrate distress screening (e.g., Distress Thermometer) into oncology workflow.
Healthcare
Adopt multidisciplinary care teams (oncology + psychology + nutrition + social work).
Community
Expand district health centres and NGO-based supportive care.
Culture
Destigmatise: promote “psychological support = active coping”.
Conclusion: Psychological Support Is a Second Breath of Life
Cancer treatment is not just scalpels, drugs, and radiation. Inside every patient is a silent battle with fear, loneliness, and helplessness. If the inner battle is neglected, the outer medical battle may fail.
For cancer patients in Hong Kong, the most important question is not “Do I need psychological support?” —
but “When should it begin?”
The answer is: now.
Want to know how to choose the most suitable adjuvant therapy for cancer?
Contact our professional team now
References
- Carlson, L. E., Beattie, T. L., Giese-Davis, J., Faris, P., Tamagawa, R., Fick, L. J., … & Speca, M. (2016). Mindfulness-based cancer recovery and supportive-expressive therapy maintain improvements in mood, stress, and quality of life in the long term: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 34(24), 281-289.
- Chan, C. W. H., Wong, F., Chow, K. M., & Lo, R. S. (2021). The burden of cancer caregivers in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional study. Supportive Care in Cancer, 29(5), 2405–2413.
- Hong Kong Cancer Registry. (2022). Hong Kong Cancer Statistics 2020. Hong Kong: Hospital Authority.
- Kübler-Ross, E., & Kessler, D. (2005). On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss. Scribner.
- Lam, W. W. T., Tsang, J., Yeo, W., Suen, J., Ho, W. M., Yip, A. L., … & Fielding, R. (2018). Identifying Chinese breast cancer survivors with high psychological needs in the first year after treatment. Psycho‐Oncology, 27(4), 1260–1266.
- Lebel, S., Maheu, C., Lefebvre, M., Secord, S., Courbasson, C., Singh, M., … & Catton, P. (2013). Addressing fear of cancer recurrence among women with cancer: A feasibility and preliminary outcome study. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 7(3), 367-378.
- Penedo, F. J., Molton, I., Dahn, J. R., Shen, B. J., Kinsinger, D., Traeger, L., … & Antoni, M. H. (2007). A randomized clinical trial of group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management in localized prostate cancer: Development of stress management skills improves quality of life and benefit finding. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33(2), 125-134.
- Rock, C. L., Doyle, C., Demark-Wahnefried, W., Meyerhardt, J., Courneya, K. S., Schwartz, A. L., … & Gansler, T. (2012). Nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 62(4), 243–274.
- World Health Organization. (2020). Integrating palliative care and symptom relief into primary health care: a WHO guide for planners, implementers and managers. Geneva: WHO.