Cognitive strategies used in adapting to a cancer diagnosis.

Adapting to a cancer diagnosis requires much time, energy, and effort. Patients, who often feel stressed and vulnerable, use several cognitive processes to help protect themselves and adapt to the illness. Denial, attributions, downward comparison, reappraisal of life, and developing a sense of mastery are some of the common emotion-focused strategies or cognitive processes used to allow patients to adapt to the disease and to a changed life. Before intervening, nurses must assess the presence of these processes and the intensity with which they are being used. Nursing interventions include cognitive restructuring, assisting with problem solving, giving information in small amounts, listening, and expressing care and concern.