Emotional health
Most people diagnosed with cancer or at high risk for cancer have some distress. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends that healthcare providers ask their patients about level of distress and refer patients experiencing distress to mental health professionals. Despite these guidelines, many patients do not receive the mental health care they need. It is important that you tell your doctor if you are experiencing distress, and ask about your options for referral to a mental health care provider.
People experiencing distress may benefit from the following services:
Find Experts
Finding mental health experts
Support for severe distress
If you are experiencing severe distress and cannot wait for a referral to a mental health care professional, please call the experts at the National Suicide Prevention Helpline.
- The National Suicide Prevention Helpline is a network of crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support for people in suicidal crisis or extreme distress. Dial 988.
Finding professional support related to cancer distress
The following resources can help you locate a mental health expert in your area.
- Association of Oncology Social Workers: Database for finding a social worker by location
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: Tips for finding a mental health professional
- The Anxiety and Depression Association of America: Database of licensed professionals who provide telehealth services
- Mental Health America: Tool for finding a mental health care professional based on people's current needs
Other ways to find experts
- Register for the FORCE Message Boards and post on the Find a Specialist board to connect with other people who share your situation.
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers have specialists to manage the symptoms and side effects from cancer prevention or treatment.
- Cancercare is a nonprofit organization that provides support through their trained oncology social workers, or call 800-813-HOPE.
- Livestrong has helpful information and tips for finding mental health care professionals.
updated: 08/18/2023
Get Support
FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations.
- Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once registered, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
- Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
- Our moderated, private Facebook group allows you to connect with other community members 24/7.
- Check out our virtual and in-person support meeting calendar.
- Join one of our Zoom community group meetings.
updated: 08/06/2022
Related Resources
The following organizations have resources related to mental and emotional health after a cancer diagnosis.
- FORCE related resources:
- Information: Emotional wellbeing
- FORCE Video: Is This My New Normal? Navigating Life Detours Due to Risk Management or Treatment
- FORCE Video: Mindfulness and Coping
- XRAY category: Emotional health
- Cancer Support Community
- CancerCare
- Cancer Hope Network
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Patients: Distress During Cancer Care
updated: 11/14/2022
Open Clinical Trials
The following studies on the emotional effects of cancer are enrolling patients:
Multiple cancers
- NCT04739696: Developing a Virtual Stress Management Intervention for Spousal/Partnered Caregivers of Solid Tumor Cancer Patients. This study will look at the ability of a stress management program for employed caregivers to improve psychological distress in spouses or partners who are caregivers for people diagnosis with a solid tumor cancer of any .
- NCT03581357: Mobile Mindfulness Meditation Intervention for Cancer Survivors. This will study the impact and satisfaction of Mobile Mindfulness Meditation on anxiety, pain, fatigue, trauma, and sleep in cancer survivors.
- NCT03611309: Perioperative Surrounding Cancer Surgery for Patients & Their Family Members (PERIOP-PC). The study goal is to compare surgeon-palliative care team co-management, versus surgeon alone management, of patients and family members preparing for major upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.
- NCT04604158: Evaluating the Effect of a Mobile Audio Companion (Elly) to Reduce Anxiety in Cancer Patients. This is a study in cancer patients to examine the feasibility of a mobile health application, Elly (Elly Health Inc.), to reduce levels of anxiety, stress, loneliness, and social isolation.
- NCT03344757: Health Gatherings - For Your Health After Cancer. look at the effects of a 10-week stress management in-person group program. The program will study emotions, stress, and stress management techniques (such as relaxation and coping techniques) on quality of life, distress, depression, and physical health in Spanish- speaking, Hispanic/Latino men diagnosed with Cancer (PC).
Breast cancer
- NCT05364450: Studying Types of Therapy for Coping With Fear of Recurrence Among Breast Cancer Survivors. Fear of breast cancer recurrence (FCR) is common. This study will test three types of online, group therapy for breast cancer survivors with FCR.
- NCT04583891: Mobile Apps to Reduce Distress in Breast Cancer Survivors Using an Adaptive Design. This project will look at using a mobile health app to address emotional distress in women with breast cancer, and test the impact of coaching as a way to increase engagement with the app.
cancer
- NCT02871752: Reducing the Effects of Active Surveillance Stress, Uncertainty and Rumination Thru Engagement in Mindfulness Education (REASSUREME). This study examines how well a couples-based mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) works on positive and negative psychological responses to active surveillance (AS) and AS adherence.
- NCT03344757: Health Gatherings - For Your Health After Cancer. This study will look at the effects of a 10-week stress management in-person group program. The program will study the effects of stress, and stress management techniques on quality of life, distress, depression, and physical health in Spanish- speaking, Hispanic/Latino men diagnosed with cancer.
updated: 12/21/2022