While higher rates of depression and anxiety in the sample is not unexpected, we are surprised that, compared to the general population in Singapore, cancer sufferers are more likely anxious than depressed – depression is 3 times more likely (16.8% of cancer patients versus 5.8% of the general population), while anxiety is 10 times more likely (9.5% of cancer patients versus 0.9% in the general population). To the best of our knowledge, few studies have sought to elucidate reasons for this disparity. Taking into consideration the cognitive basis of depression and anxiety, it could well be that the perception of threat and coping resources far overwhelm the theme of loss in cancer patients.