Cancer-Related Distress:

nurse holding the hand of a patient

What Is It and What Can Help?

Distress can have many meanings. Many people with cancer have distress at some point in time.

Distress is an unpleasant experience of mental, physical, social, or spiritual in nature. It can affect the way you think, feel, or act. Distress may make it harder to cope with having cancer, its symptoms or its treatment. If you are distressed, you may feel:

Some distress is normal. You may feel distressed when you learn you have cancer. It is also normal to worry at certain times, especially when starting treatment, waiting for surgery and receiving test results. For some, distress remains after treatment is over.

There are signs that can warn you that your level of distress is too high. Some of these are:

  • Feeling more overwhelmed than usual
  • Feeling more tired and fatigued
  • More physical symptoms on the days you feel stressed (getting headaches, body aches)
  • Being more irritable, or angry than usual
  • Trouble getting to seep or waking early (getting less than 4 hours of sleep)
  • Having a very hard time making decisions, even small ones
  • Questioning spiritual beliefs that once gave you comfort
  • Feeling worthless and useless

Tips to Help You Cope With Distress:

  • Rely on ways of coping that have helped you solve problems in the past.
  • Use your support systems - share your worries or symptoms with people closest to you
  • Work together with your healthcare team to make decisions about your care and treatment
  • Deal with cancer one day at a time. On the really tough days, it might be one hour at a time
  • Join support and self-help groups.
  • Keep a personal journal as a way to express yourself
  • Be physically active (exercise, go to work, get outside). Talk with your healthcare team about an exercise plan.
  • Seek help if the low periods are frequent or severe, it is okay to have a bad day
  • Accept help from a mental health expert
  • Have your support person available during your appointment, by phone or in-person, when permitted.
  • Talk to a social worker who can help to provide support, education, and additional resources.

Patient Stories

  • “The good news is that everything worked out pretty much how I told them it would.”

    Erin
    Read More
  • “The treatment continues to go well, and I feel good. I love the fact that it’s a pill—no IV or needles. I’m back to work, traveling, going to church and doing all the things I enjoy.”

    Cynthia
    Read More
  • “I consider myself very fortunate,” shares Maria. “I took part in the clinical study with the goal to help others.”

    Maria
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Medical Specialty Services at Bayonne
16 East 29th Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(973) 926-7280
View
Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center
377 Jersey Avenue
Ground Floor, Medical Office Building
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(877) 393-5374
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Westfield
560 Springfield Ave
Westfield, NJ 07090
(973) 322-7020
View
RWJBarnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Community Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Center
368 Lakehurst Rd
1st Floor, Suite 102
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-3363
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Howell
4013 Route 9
Suite 2S
Howell, NJ 07731
(732) 923-7700
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Colts Neck
310 Route 34 South
Second Floor
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 923-7700
View
Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation Infusion Center
414 Grand Street
Suite 9
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2730
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7700
View
Jersey City Medical Center Radiation Oncology
631 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
(844) 226-2376
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Cancer Institute
195 Little Albany St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-2465
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Lakewood
600 River Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 923-7700
View
Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
Monmouth Medical Center Outpatient Infusion Center
100 State Route 36 West
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 222-6046
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Livingston
200 South Orange Avenue
Suite 102
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7020
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View
The Family Health Center (FHC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
166 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
125 Paterson Street
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-6200
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
View
Laurie Proton Therapy Center
141 French Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 253-3176
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group
18 Centre Drive
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(609) 655-5178
View
Cancer Center at RWJ Hamilton
2575 Klockner Road
Hamilton Township, NJ 08690
(609) 631-6960
View

Cancer Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations