Your Feelings

Each individual may react differently when they find out they have liver tumors, and may experience a range of emotions such as shock, disbelief, fear, anxiety, guilt, sadness, depression and anger.  All of these feelings are normal and many of us have experienced a variety of all of them.  Sharing these feelings is one of the greatest services that we are able to provide.  Support is a necessary part of this journey and will come in many forms.  Here are just a few of the emotions you may feel:

• Shock or Disbelief
Shock may be the first emotion you experience because no one is ever prepared to hear they have cancer or that the cancer has spread. This is particularly true of liver tumors. Most likely, the first symptom of liver tumors which caused you to seek medical attention was very minor such as fatigue or abdominal distention.
Becky Paez~  When I was first diagnosed, I told everyone to call me Cleopatra - the Queen of Denial!


• Fear or Anxiety
It is not unusual for you to feel fear or anxiety, in fact, fear of pain and suffering is one of the greatest fears experienced by most patients and their families. You may also be anxious about the treatments your doctor may be recommending, and wonder how you will be able to get through them.

Tina Schaeffer~  I was afraid that I would die and worried about who would take care of my son.

• Guilt
You may feel guilty and ask yourself what symptoms could have been noticed earlier or whether certain behavior, such as smoking or stress, could have caused your cancer. In a very high percentage of cases diagnosed the cancer is found incidentally during routine testing or procedures.

Tom Mast~  Though my wife is the one with cancer, I felt very guilty about her treatment and diagnosis.  It was as though the world stopped.

• Grief or Depression
With a diagnosis of cancer comes uncertainty, and when the future is uncertain, you may have feelings of grief or depression. Even thinking about treatments and how they may affect you and your family can cause additional concerns which can ultimately lead to depression. It is important to remember, however, that these are feelings that can be dealt with supportive help or in some cases, medication.

Suzanne Lindley~  We mourned the fact that I was dying, and forgot to celebrate that fact that I was very much alive.

• Anger
Anger is probably the widest reaching emotion you may experience because it can extend to family members, friends or health care professionals. If you are only trying to vent your feelings, be sure to let people know your anger is not directed at them and you don’t expect them to have solutions to your problems.

Janet Saunders~  My daughter and family felt that I was angry at everyone and that I directed my feelings towards them in a manner that was mean.