Is there a correlation between emotions, psychological characteristics, personality traits and cancer treatment and recovery? Can they influence the outcome of the disease? Definitely. People who maintain a positive and resilient attitude certainly strengthen and support the treatment process.

Are there any specific personality traits that help a person diagnosed with cancer recover faster? Is there any specific type of people who survive better, for example, a person who takes control of the treatment? Yes, there are some people who can handle the situation better. One such type is people who can keep a grip on their situation. People who are able to plan their treatment; who can still take control and don`t fall apart; who still have the capacity and are determined to take charge of their life; whose attitude is focused and who have better coping skills are able to deal with the illness better. Those who display faith in the treatment process also have an advantage.

People who have maintained a structured life; whose faith and belief system is strong; who have strong family and social ties; who are practical, committed and forward-looking; who have had meaningful life experiences and can still take an active part in daily life have better chances of recovery.

Is it true that people with feelings of helplessness or hopelessness about their condition are less likely to survive? Can negative personality traits or emotions alter immune systems and cause the cancer to grow, or cause a relapse? If a person is stressed or depressed, will the tumour grow faster? People with poor coping skills are more likely to develop comorbids (medical condition that co-occurs with another) such as extreme anxiety and depression. If they become extremely anxious, there is the added element of a comorbid complication to handle, which in turn makes recovery more difficult. If theylose hope and their outlook is affected, it can slow down the healing process. Even if the treatment yields positive results, they may not appreciate the progress; if they display general hopelessness and apathy to any progress, it doesn`t contribute to their overall wellbeing at all.

How can patients help make their treatment work better? Every person has their own way of dealing with a crisis. The bottom-line is that they should promote their general wellbeing and try to shift their focus to their life instead of their illness. They should try as much as pos-sible to maintain a structure and routine in their lives. They should take up meaningful and rewarding activities which they enjoy, including religious practices, social work and pursue their hobbies. They should be extra careful about maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.

They can take up voluntary and charity work; contribute to society by teaching underprivileged women and children; start working from home or resume their jobs and if possible, depending on their mobility and recovery; take up some physical activity, or become involved in some project that is enjoyable and rewarding.

Do physical changes such as hair loss, disfigurement and the ability to continue with their routine work affect women in more severe way? When disfigurement due to cancer occurs in women, there are drastic changes in body image and self-image and it may adversely affect their sense of self. Women are more prone to crisis if they have undergone marked visible changes.

What are the dos and don`ts for helping cancer patients? It is very important for people to be con-scious that their behaviour and response should not reinforce the stigma attached to the illness. While they should show concern and care, they should avoid asking unnecessary details as this can make the patients feel forced to face the complications and dangers involved, or perhaps even augment them.

People should respect the patients` need for confidentiality and privacy.

How important is support from others? Can support groups help a patient live longer? Psychological support for cancer patients is of utmost importance. The impact of a positive, empathic and caring support system is profound. People who are fortunate enough to have a strong network of family and social support manage better.

Availing a support service like counselling is very helpful, as an empathic doctor will be able to both lend a supportive ear and also understand their psychological and physical needs and dilemmas. Cancer support groups help in early diagnosis and finding proper treatment and care. They provide links to various oncology services and departments.

They are an effective forum for patients and their families to share alternate treatments and personal stories of successful coping strategies. E