I have noticed my relatives blaming either something they did directly or indirectly and sometimes also religious, psychological, personal reasons as a cause of their cancer, is this common among cancer patients ? how can i address this problem to them in a way that will help ease their extra troubles.
There can be many reasons for self-blame and you should keep talking and make sure they are able to express, communicate and understand these feelings with the people close to them whether they be a caregiver or someone they know, or the health care professional who is overlooking their condition, or by communicating with other patients who have gone through this experience and are ready talk to about it.
As stated by Cancer research Uk –
“Cancers start because of a mistake in copying DNA when normal cells are dividing and growing. Several of these mistakes have to happen before a cell becomes cancerous.
Although some of our unhealthy behaviour can increase the risk of mistakes in our genes, the mistakes can also just happen by chance as our cells divide and grow.
Even when people know this they may still wonder if the cancer has been caused by something they did.”
It becomes quite clear when it is emphasized that cancer does not occur due to any fatalistic or personal character faults.
in the same vein we can assert that it does not occur due to any religious or psychological reason too.
It might also be common for your relatives to feel this way due to some common misconceptions prevalent about cancer and, more importantly, the insecure and precarious mental health that every cancer patient goes through due to their condition.
As regards the prevalence about this in cancer patients many people suffer from some form of experienced stigma or internalized stigma in which they as a person are regarded the problem and not cancer and its medical causes. This itself stems from lack of awareness regarding cancer and its process of occurring and treatment and previous personal and social strife that a person is going through.
Yes, self-blaming can be a common emotional response among cancer patients. A cancer diagnosis often comes with a mix of intense emotions, and self-blaming can be one of them. There are a few reasons why cancer patients might experience self-blame:
1. Misconceptions and Stigma: There are still misconceptions and stigmas associated with certain lifestyle choices (such as smoking, diet, and exercise) and their potential links to cancer. Patients might blame themselves if they believe their behavior contributed to their cancer diagnosis.
2. Lack of Control: Cancer can be a sudden and unexpected diagnosis. Feeling a lack of control over one's health and the situation can lead to feelings of guilt and self-blame.
3. Coping Mechanism: Self-blame might also be a way for patients to try to make sense of a difficult situation. It provides a sense of explanation, even if it's not accurate, which can help some individuals manage their emotional turmoil.
4. Fear of Burdening Others: Some cancer patients might feel guilty about the impact their illness has on their loved ones. They might blame themselves for causing worry, stress, or financial burden on their families.
It's important to note that cancer is a complex disease influenced by a combination of factors, including genetics, environment, and chance. While certain lifestyle factors can contribute to cancer risk, not all cases are preventable. Cancer patients should receive support, empathy, and understanding from their healthcare providers, loved ones, and themselves. If self-blame becomes overwhelming or is interfering with a patient's emotional well-being, seeking counseling or support groups can be beneficial in addressing these feelings.
