Nowadays, it is well known that a cancer diagnosis has an important impact on the patient and his family. Given a stressful life event, such as cancer, the family is in crisis, so it is crucial how they facing the process. Two families with different adaptation process at the time of diagnosis are presented and the differences are analyzed.

Family 1: Woman, diagnosis of breast cancer. She lives with her husband and she has two children. Troubled family relationships before the diagnosis. Following the cancer diagnosis, family conflicts increase, both with their children and with her husband. The family is not able to adapt to the new situation and the patient perception is that her family do not care what is happening to her.

Family 2: Woman, diagnosis of breast cancer. She lives with her boyfriend, she has no children. She has a good relationship with her family before the diagnosis, without unresolved conflicts in the past. Since cancer diagnosis the whole family has turned to the patient, being more available for her needs, physically and emotionally. She is feeling supported by them and this is making the adaptation process and family adjustment easier, feeling the patient stronger to cope with illness.

In families with unresolved crisis before the disease, the psychological stress increases after diagnosis. The family finds it difficult to react and adapt to the changes caused by the disease and the relationships between its members deteriorate. Conversely, if the family dynamic is good, it is a positive factor in the recovery.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.