ABSTRACT
Cancer, like other diseases, requires great adaptation efforts. Not only does it affect the person who has it, but it also causes a great emotional burden in the family environment. When a family member has cancer, family dynamics become destabilized. Family emotional responses and the degree to which family dynamics are destabilized will depend on the following:
Cancer (type of cancer, location, phase in which it is located, degree of disability)
Who is the relative who is sick (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent) and role played within the family
Health beliefs held by the family
Previous experiences of illness (e.g., it is not the same to have a history of family members who died from cancer, family members who were cured of cancer, or family members who had the same or different types of cancer)
Family type (functional or dysfunctional)
