Overcoming Fear of Recurrence - from eCure

Jackie07 · 08-25-2009, 03:58 PM

Overcoming Fear of Recurrence

Although it may never go away, fear of recurrence should diminish over time, especially if you have had a positive experience as a survivor and are a healthy, active person. Here are a few strategies to cope with the uncertainty that cancer may return.
› Know the triggers. Managing fear is essential when external stimuli, known as triggers, feed anxiety. Learn to identify what causes you anxiety, whether it is news that a friend has had a recurrence or an unexplained ache or pain that makes you question whether the cancer has returned.
› Talk to others. Sometimes just knowing your anxiety is normal will help. Talk to your doctor, a friend, or a support group about your fears, and ask what has helped others.
› Keep healthy. Exercise and a good diet will not only make you feel better physically, but can also give you the knowledge that you are doing what you can to make your body healthy. Exercise can also boost your mood and lower anxiety.
› Ask for help. While it is normal to worry about recurrence, if it is overtaking your life, you may need to talk to a professional. A counselor can help you sort out your feelings and prescribe medication, if needed.

For more strategies on coping with the uncertainty of recurrence, read CURE's Fear of Recurrence.

schoolteacher · 08-26-2009, 12:52 PM

Thanks for the article Jackie. I will be 22 months from finding my BC at the end of September, and I have talked to the doctor about this fact.

When I went to my support group meeting last week, one of the ladies had had a reoccurrence, and this upset me somewhat.

Amelia

Jackie07 · 08-26-2009, 01:23 PM

Amelia,

Thank you for writing.

I am sorry to hear the recurrence of your friend in your support group. Because of the delay of the diagnosis of my recurrence (always told to be 'scar tissue' after mammagrams), I made it a mission of mine to warn other sisters about the mistakes our doctors and technicians can make.

It's harder for my medical providers to compare my lab results because I've also got 3 tumors inside of my brain that had been 'Gammaknifed' in 2001. I think I am going to ask for a PET scan when I see my oncologist on the 31 of August. I think if they had done it every year after my first b.c. treatment in 2003, my recurrence would have been caught much earlier.

Having been threatened with serious illnesses so many times, I don't really care that much whether I am staying healthy or dying from some illness. I just don't want to 'go'/live in a stupid way. I am going to do my part, and let God make His decision... and I mean the real 'God', not those who think they are God.

margiermc · 10-26-2009, 07:00 AM

This is my problem. Thanks for the article.
My oncologist was a psych. at one time, he sees
me once a wk., now every 2 wk, I'm getting better,
but this scares me at 9 pm everynight, that's when
they told me a year ago, it was c.

Margie in Florida

I saved the article.