The Association Between Fear of Emotional Expression and Somatic Symptoms Is Stronger in Metastatic than in Localized or Remitted Cancer

James Gerhart, Mark A. Lumley, Katrina Hamilton, Andrew H. Rogers, Michael Hoerger, Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biological Sciences, SUNY Buffalo, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Psychology, Tulane University, Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®

Published online on June 23, 2026

Abstract

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundPeople with cancer often experience strong emotions at the time of diagnosis and when informed that their cancer has metastasized. Whereas the expression of emotions is often healthy, the fear of emotional expression can impede adaptation by ...