How to help patients cope with cancer Generally speaking, when a patient learns that he or she has cancer, it means that he or she will face pain, death or loss of function of an organ. Although the emotions and behaviors of each patient may be very different, most of the cancer patients will have the following emotional changes. 1.Shock and denial period: At the beginning of cancer, most of the patients cannot accept this fact. Then, the patient will deny the fact of the disease and think that the doctor’s diagnosis is wrong. For patients in this stage, they should be allowed to take some time to accept it and show patience and concern to the patient’s repeated inquiries. 2. Anger phase: When the patient denies the facts, there is still some hope in his heart, and when he sees that the facts cannot be changed, he will change from denial to anger. This is understandable, because the patient is facing too many blows. Changes in health, career, love, relationships, etc. can occur. For this phase, patients often complain and take their anger out on family members and health care workers. At this time, nursing staff should not talk and laugh, but show a serious and caring attitude, and often spend time to talk patiently with the patient, so that the patient can say how he or she feels. 3. Consultation period: After a period of anger and venting, the patient will slowly calm down, but his or her inner heart activities have not subsided. The patient will bargain with his trusted doctor, for example, the patient will promise to do something in return as long as he can only get sick. Patients in this phase are very eager to get better and will do something in return. Patients in this phase are very eager to get better and have an increased desire to live. Family members and medical staff should analyze the patient’s condition and let the patient try to cooperate with medical staff, accept treatment, and be prepared for the side effects due to treatment. 4.Depression period: In the process of treatment, when the side effects of treatment are unbearable or the treatment is not effective, and the cancer recurs, the patient will show sadness, crying, silence, loss of appetite, depression, cowering, feeling of helplessness and despair when facing the cruel facts. Patients in this period may show suicidal tendency. In nursing medicine, certain measures should be taken and non-verbal communication should be used to show concern to patients, such as shaking hands, gentle and firm tone of voice, etc. 5. Acceptance period: After a period of internal struggle, the patient’s emotions will slowly calm down, re-accept the facts, correct their mood and face the great changes in their lives caused by the disease and treatment. During this period, the patient is able to accept the treatment in a more rational way, which is the most desirable state for the patient by the medical staff and family members. In addition to the above reactions, patients may experience other psychological reactions. For example, the patient’s family situation may change due to the impact of the disease, such as reduced income and increased medical expenses, which may also bring the patient a lot of psychological pressure. In conclusion, the psychological problems of cancer patients cannot be ignored. Only by carefully understanding and observing the psychological activities of patients, showing understanding and giving support to them, can they receive treatment smoothly, prolong their lives and recover their health.