This grieving process is different from depression. If mourning continues for several months after treatment ends, counseling services may be helpful. Many people have a theory or idea about why they have developed cancer, especially when doctors cannot say with certainty what causes the illness. Some patients decide that the diagnosis is a form of punishment for something they have done or not done in the past. Blaming yourself for having cancer is dangerous because feeling guilty will only make you feel worse and add to your normal anxieties and uncertainties.
Nothing can change the reality that cancer has occurred.
When people blame themselves, coping becomes much more difficult. Sometimes patients who wonder if they are being punished later realize this is not true. Others may find it difficult to put this idea to rest. Don't let self-blame or guilt drain you of the energy needed to cope with your illness. So far, there is no scientific proof that a person's attitude will guarantee or influence survival.