![]() ![]() You may also want to consider counseling. If you are concerned about anything on this list, talk with your health care team. Trouble concentrating or making decisionsįeeling that you have nothing to look forward to Not participating in activities you used to enjoy Worry or anxiety that gets in the way of your relationships and daily activitiesįear that prevents you from going to your follow-up care appointments The following signs may indicate more serious anxiety or depression: You might find yourself overwhelmed by fear or anxiety even after your best efforts to cope with it. Find more information on developing a survivorship care plan. Having a regular schedule of follow-up visits can provide survivors with a sense of control. Your follow-up care plan may include regular physical examinations and or tests to keep track of your recovery. Recurrence can happen in the weeks, months or even years after your original cancer was treated. A main goal of follow-up care is to check for a recurrence of cancer. If you do experience a symptom that does not go away or gets worse, talk with your health care team. Knowing what to expect may help you stop worrying that every ache or pain means the cancer has returned. They can also tell you what symptoms to look for. Your oncologist or another health care professional who knows your medical history can tell you about the chances of the cancer returning. But no one can tell you exactly what will happen in the future. There is some research about the pattern of recurrence for many types of cancer. Tips to reduce stress include:įocus on hobbies and other activities you enjoyīe well informed. Try different ways of reducing stress to find out what works best for you. Finding ways to manage stress will help lower your overall level of anxiety. Read more about healthy living after cancer. Avoiding unhealthy habits, like smoking and excessive drinking, helps people feel like they have more control over their health. Healthy habits like eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep help people feel better both physically and emotionally. ![]() The group experience often creates a sense of belonging that helps survivors feel less alone and more understood. They also allow you to exchange practical information and helpful suggestions. Support groups offer the chance to share feelings and fears with others who understand. Many cancer survivors find joining a support group to be helpful. Talking with your health care team about your worries can help by discussing the likelihood of your concerns together. Sometimes, you may worry about things that are unlikely to happen. For instance, when you need follow-up imaging scans, you may experience " scanxiety." Other times this fear often increases includes follow-up lab tests or doctor visits, the anniversary of your diagnosis, or a time when someone else gets a new cancer diagnosis. Be aware that your anxiety may temporarily increase at specific times. Accept that you are going to experience some fear, and focus on ways to manage the anxiety. ![]() Telling yourself not to worry or criticizing yourself for being afraid will not make these feelings go away. You can also try writing down your thoughts, such as keeping a journal, or expressing yourself through art or music.ĭo not ignore your fears. This might include the fear of having to repeat cancer treatment, losing control over your life, or facing death. Talking out loud about your concerns may help you figure out the reasons behind your fears. It often helps to talk about your fears with a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional. Naming them will help you think about ways to cope with them. Many people try to hide or ignore “negative” feelings like fear and anxiety. Here are a few ideas to help you cope with the fear of recurrence: This worry usually gets better over time, and you should let your health care team know if it does not. Worrying about cancer coming back is usually most intense the first year after treatment. It is important to remind yourself that fear and anxiety are normal parts of survivorship. How to cope with the fear of cancer recurrence If fear of recurrence persists, there are additional things you can do to help control this fear and reduce its effect on your daily life. Knowing your health is being closely monitored can help reduce your fear of recurrence. The main way to reduce the chance of cancer recurrence is to have a good follow-up care plan, also called a survivorship care plan, with a health care team you trust. Having a fear of recurrence is very normal. If this does happen, it is called cancer recurrence. After treatment ends, one of the most common concerns survivors have is that the cancer will come back. ![]()
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