What is denial?
Denying that it is really a cancer, and hope, despite all odds, that it will all be made well, or it will be discovered to be a misdiagnosis – this sort of delusion has been observed to last for several years in some patients. Some others just accept “the death sentence” and die. Not all who die have given up. Not every dying person comes to terms with what is happening in a way that is clear to the outside observer. Can we say who is right, and who is wrong? Denial is the patient’s refusal to take on board the bad news. It is a complex concept that has different meanings in different contexts and serves a multitude of functions. When a person finds the challenges too overwhelming, denial may be the coping strategy that “works”. Denial, in this situation, provides psychological protection. However, denial of the illness or of its severity for some patients can cause delayed diagnosis or compromised compliance with treatment. Furthermore, denial is used within an interpersonal context.
