Cancer patients' perceptions of positive and negative illness-related changes.

We assessed perceived cancer-related change in 153 recently diagnosed patients. High levels of social support and optimism at the start of chemotherapy predicted higher numbers of perceived positive changes and lower numbers of negative changes nine months later. Higher numbers of perceived gains predicted an increase in positive affect, and higher numbers of negative changes predicted an increase in negative affect at follow-up. We conclude that finding positive consequences of cancer promotes psychological well-being, but patients with low levels of psychosocial resources are at risk for finding nothing beneficial in adversity.