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Cancer Profile Characteristics
Researchers have looked for personality characteristics shared by all cancer patients. For many, the development of their cancer has been preceded by a significant loss in their lives and often a loss of hope. Although there is yet to be a definition of a cancer personality that fits all people with cancer, some experts believe that for many people, and for certain types of cancers, psychological elements are more of a factor. There are, however, psychological traits and stressful events commonly shared by people who contract cancer. Cancer profile characteristics include:
- having experienced a significant loss
- being overly critical towards oneself
- having a disturbed or emotionally sterile relationship with parents
- suppressing anger or strong emotions
- hopelessness, depression, and being a self-sacrificing kind of person.
The adverse effects of these characteristics on a person's immune
system could be reduced by working with a caring competent therapist,
see the next section for guidance on "Finding
a Cancer Therapist".
Book(s):
You can Fight for Your Life: Emotional Factors in the Treatment of Cancer, by Lawrence LeShan, Ph.D. (National Book Network, 1980)
The Type C Connection: The Behavioral Links to Cancer and Your Health, by Lydia Temoshok, Ph.D., and Henry Dreher (Random House, 1992).
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