Acceptance in cancer simply means coming to terms with The new found reality upon the diagnosis of the disease. It can also be recognised as a key factor playing a critical role in psychological adjustment to the illness.
The word ‘Cancer’ doesn’t weigh down heavily on the “sufferers “ alone but can also weigh upon the caregivers, family members , loved ones and friends along with the treating doctors and nurses also.
Often swinging between the polarity of disbelief, shock, the fear of an impending death , anger, grief, at times even a sense of guilt that the patient did something to cause their cancer or guilt that their family has to also go through - these emotions can open up gates of a lot of gushing emotions.
In the storm of the dark clouds of negative emotions it is very ‘ hope’ and zest for life which can help in combating the psychological ramifications .
Hope cannot be reasoned or felt; it is not an emotion, and it is more than acceptance . It has, among other things, to do with patience. Where you cannot be cured of your illness, you do not give up, but persevere as the one you are.
If we are more cushioned mentally and emotionally, the punch of the disease will be certainly felt, may be not as hard as a punch from Francis Ngannou .