Type and stage of cancer do not differentiate anxiety
levels. It is possible that patients construe disease seriousness
subjectively, which contributes to the development of
psychological distress symptoms. Another explanation to
justify the absence of correlation between illness severity and
anxiety symptoms could possibly be associated with the role
of family support. In other words, a less favorable prognosis
announced to the family environment has the ability to
moderate or minimize relevant requirements from the part
of the patient, while increasing benefits and support to the
seriously affectedmember.The increase in the sense of family
support contributes to the reduction of negative factors acting
favorably in order to mitigate the psychological burden that
is expected to be brought by the severity of the disease
[44]. However this theory necessitates further investigation
as it requires that particular family values and patterns exist
like those still found in Greece and in the Mediterranean
countries.