Tehran University of Medical Sciences Basic & Clinical Cancer Research 2228-6527 14 4 2023 10 29 198 201 Amir Hossein Goudarzian Department of Psychiatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2023 05 01 2023 06 24 When people hear about someone who has cancer, it is not uncommon for them to experience feelings of sympathy and pity. However, while these reactions are well-intentioned, they can have negative consequences for the patient. Sympathy is a feeling or emotional response characterized by compassion, understanding, and concern for the suffering or hardship experienced by another person. It involves the ability to share in the feelings of others and to genuinely care about their well-being. This article will explore the negative consequences of sympathy and pity reactions of people toward cancer patients. https://bccr.tums.ac.ir/index.php/bccrj/article/view/478