Cancerbackup: Anger & resentment

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Anger and resentment

Understandably you may be very upset by many aspects of the illness. This distress may lead to you feeling angry and irritable.

You may feel resentful that you or someone you care for has cancer while other people are well. These feelings are a common reaction and there is no need to feel guilty about having such thoughts or feelings.

However, relatives and friends may not always realise that your anger is really directed at the illness and not against them. If you can, it may help to tell them this at a time when you are not feeling quite so angry and distressed.


Content last reviewed: 01 September 2008
Page last modified: 14 January 2009

Get support

Look for other people in the same situation on our What Now? community - read their blogs or talk to them in our chat rooms.

Find out about other ways to get support on the main Macmillan website.

Support

  • If you need to discuss your situation with someone outside your family, you can call our freephone helpline.