BACKGROUND: In patients diagnosed with cancer the symptoms of the disease are related to pessimistic conditions before recovery. On the other hand, favorable emotional conditions increase life expectancy in oncological patients. Resilience refers to the individuals´ capacity to face difficulties, to recover and manage to end up strengthen from a situation likely harmful for health. The diagnosis of cancer, the increase of symptoms of such disease pose an impact that may play against the patient should he not have an adequate response that may enable him to cope with the sickness. Emotional unrest encompasses psychological, social and existential preoccupations and interferes with his capacity to properly face his sickness and ensuing treatment. Its appearance occurs upon diagnosis of cancer, grieve for the current state of health, fear of death, preoccupation for loved-ones, the treatment effects or fear of relapse. Life quality is related to the degree of satisfaction the person has with regards to his physical condition, emotional state, family and social life, as well as the meaning he gives to his life. Psychological reactions before such sickness may decrease the life quality of a person who has been diagnosed with cancer and they may even unleash other disorders as anxiety or depression. This renders more difficult the process of understanding and facing such sickness.

METHODS: The relation between resilience, emotional unrest and quality of life is studied in cancer-diagnosed patients. A sample of 50 adults diagnosed with cancer was selected. Said patients are given chemotherapy and measurement instruments (using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) were applied: the thermometer of emotional unrest and the Questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and treatment of Quality of Life in patients with cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30). Correlation coefficients were found between each pair of variables.

RESULTS: A weak and positive correlation was found between resilience and functional scales QLC-C30, as well as between resilience and global life quality of QLC-C30 and a weak negative correlation between resilience and the scales of symptoms of QLQ-C30. All of the above seem to indicate that resilience has a rather slight relation with higher life quality and functioning level, and also with the absence of physical symptoms.

RESEARCH AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Study of life quality and emotional unrest in patients with cancer is paramount mainly due to the threat to existence, fear of death and changes in life styles lead to by the diagnosis and treatment, as they also lead to physical, emotional, spiritual, social and occupational consequences. It is thus deemed important to assess the relation existing between psychological variables as resilience in patients with cancer, to the effect that, when intervening there may be a decrease on the emotional unrest and a positive impact in the quality of life of individuals who suffer from such disease.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FUNDING: Instituto de Oncología y Hematología (IOH) [Institute of Oncology and Hematology in Spanish]. Universidad Central de Venezuela.