Dealing with cancer is often considered a critical incident in a person's life as it is an immensely traumatic and tumultuous time. Research suggests that cancer patients often experience high rates of distress, death anxiety, and depression. Several coping mechanisms have been identified that helps cancer patients to improve their wellbeing. However, most research largely comes from the West and little attention has been given to the role of cultural factors such as spirituality, close knit family structures, and traditional beliefs that are particularly important in a culturally diverse country like India. The study explored the role of such cultural factors in the coping mechanisms employed by cancer patients to deal with the illness. The sample consisted 20 cancer patients in India with age above 18, having either undergone treatment or taking treatment currently. The data was collected using in-depth interviews and was analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. It was found that the impact of cancer treatment went beyond the physical side-effects and deterioration in health. The cancer patients experienced a debilitating feeling of 'becoming a burden' on their family members and intense affective distress. This subsumed feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, stress (mild and severe), shock, situational negativity, struggle, suffering, and loneliness. The analysis revealed 4 major themes: belief in god, fate, and karma; acceptance of illness, life, and imminent death; multidimensional social support structures; and role of relationships and attachment with family. The findings highlight the crucial role of cultural factors in shaping the coping mechanisms of cancer patients that helps in maintaining psychological strength during the harsh treatment process. This study is significant for developing culturally sensitive interventions within sustainable development frameworks to enhance the psychological well-being of cancer patients.