Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday followed a brief battle with cancer, according to statements from her family. The disclosure revealed that the singer had faced the disease privately before dying surrounded by loved ones.

Her previously undisclosed diagnosis has drawn attention to why some patients choose not to make their cancer journeys public. It also raises questions about the personal adjustment that can follow such life changing news.

Dr. Kristin Higgins, chief clinical officer at City of Hope Cancer Center in Atlanta, said keeping a diagnosis private at first can be a natural response. She explained that receiving the news can be overwhelming for a patient.

Higgins surmised that Parton may have wanted people to remember her for her "amazing career" instead of focusing on a diagnosis at the end of her life. That desire can reflect the challenge of reconciling a familiar identity with a serious illness.

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"It's very natural to cling to that identity of being a healthy, vibrant person without a diagnosis of cancer," Higgins told Fox News Digital.

Patients may need time to absorb what the diagnosis means before sharing it with the people around them. According to Higgins, that adjustment process can shape how and when they begin speaking to friends and relatives.

"The patient really needs to acclimate to the idea of themselves having this disease and then start to tell friends and family kind of slowly after they go through that adjustment process."

In some situations, Higgins said, patients may remain quiet because they feel shame or embarrassment. Cancers associated with tobacco can still carry a stigma, and some patients may believe the diagnosis was their fault.

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Higgins stressed that nobody deserves a cancer diagnosis. However, those feelings may still influence whether a person is comfortable disclosing the disease to others.

Although privacy can help a patient process the initial news, Higgins said eventually sharing the diagnosis can bring important personal support. Friends, relatives and community members may be able to rally around someone during treatment.

Religious communities can be one source of that support. Patients who tell a wider circle about their diagnosis may find comfort in knowing that others are praying for them throughout treatment.

"For example, for people who are religious, letting their greater circle know about that diagnosis can be really helpful, as people will pray for them as they're going through the journey of treatment," Higgins said.

Higgins said she generally sees value in patients eventually telling as many people as possible. Wider disclosure can create a larger network of encouragement during a difficult period.

"I think, overall, it's a very beneficial thing to eventually tell as many people as possible so you can get that support."

Sharing a cancer journey may also increase awareness and help other people confronting the same challenge. Higgins said that seeing or hearing about someone undergoing treatment successfully can be helpful to a person facing a new diagnosis.

Public disclosure can also lead patients to more information about treatment opportunities. Higgins specifically pointed to clinical trials and the difficulty patients may face when trying to find out about them.

"There are so many resources out there now. … Clinical trials are really what move the needle in the cure rates for cancer, and finding out about these trials is not easy," Higgins noted.

When more people know about a diagnosis, patients can have more supporters looking for information and offering opinions about where to seek cancer treatment. Higgins described those people as cheerleaders who can root for the patient and help expand the flow of information.

The doctor also emphasized that there is more hope than ever for people confronting cancer. She cited a survival statistic while discussing the value of support and openness.

"Our statistic is that 70% of people diagnosed with cancer will survive five years or more," she said. "And we can do it, we can get through it."

For some patients, including public figures, deciding whether to disclose cancer remains deeply personal. Higgins said sharing can ultimately help people obtain the support they need while navigating treatment.

"I think … the beauty of sharing this diagnosis with the world is that we can get all the support we need."