Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. It is normal to feel frightened, anxious and panicky at times when you're diagnosed with cancer. And self-consciousness can strain your relationship with your partner if you don't feel worthy of love or affection. Few people can jump straight back into living a normal life after a traumatic event, so go easy on yourself. You might consider consulting: Other cancer survivors. You might worry that every ache or pain is a sign of your cancer recurring. See if you are eligible for a free NHS flu jab today. You may fear the worst when it's time for your next follow-up appointment. But you might feel like those people can't truly understand what you're going through if they haven't had cancer. Are the new COVID-19 swab tests accurate? You might feel as if others can't understand what you've been through, which makes it hard to relate to other people and can lead to loneliness. Anxiety and depression are common feelings after diagnosis and treatment for cancer. Quite understandably, this combination can trigger our anxiety response, which is a primitive survival response and in this state for a long time, it can literally reprogramme the brain to maintain this state post recovery," explains Dr Sharie Coombes, Psychologist of Foundations Therapy. Our clinical information is certified to meet NHS England's Information Standard.Read more. The trick is to not let it overtake your life and make you feel stressed about everything related to cancer or otherwise. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are keys to successfully overcoming depression. Remember, anxiety post-cancer is a normal, human reaction to a traumatic situation. For details see our conditions. Chemotherapy and sex: Is sexual activity OK during treatment? http://www.cancer.net/survivorship/life-after-cancer/coping-with-fear-recurrence. Concern about having relationships change. Fear of death. Upgrade to Patient Pro Medical Professional? "I felt anxious about everything - guilt, a fear of germs, social anxiety and I even suffered from panic attacks.". National Cancer Institute. However, although anxiety comes with a wealth of uncomfortable symptoms, it's important to remember it's an understandable response to the trauma we've been through. It is normal to feel anxious, frightened or panicky at times. Acknowledging that some moments may be tougher than others - for example, if you have an upcoming blood test or have to go to hospital for another reason - will help you to manage your anxiety in the moment. After six weeks of intensive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, although she felt relieved, she also found the absence of the daily routine that her treatment had brought made her feel anxious. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis can be tough at the best of times, but even more so in the curre... Anxiety may present in many different ways, including accelerated heart rate, trembling, nausea, muscle tension, inability to relax and insomnia. Registered in England and Wales. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling refreshed. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Worry over losing independence. After treatment, many people worry about whether the cancer will come back. You might withdraw from friends and family. It releases adrenaline and other hormones that … Don't feel you need to do everything at once. Don't let that stop you from going. Ask your doctor about what you can do to reduce your chance of a cancer recurrence. What could be causing your pins and needles? Resources to Help You Cope Learn to spot signs of anxiety or depression, and … Claire, 45, from Grimsby was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2016. Tell your doctor about your feelings. Cope with your fear by being honest with yourself about your feelings. After cancer treatment, you will have follow-up care from your healthcare team to make sure everything is going well and find out if you have any concerns. Other symptoms of … What you need to know about post-viral fatigue, How to treat constipation and hard-to-pass stools. For up to one in four people, though, these emotions can become severe. Get detailed information about emotional and psychological distress, anxiety, and coping skills in this expert-reviewed information summary. Friends and family might be unsure of how to help you, and some people may even be afraid of you because you've had cancer. As well as anxiety, some cancer survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Whilst some of the symptoms - which may include feelings of helplessness and fear - may present in a similar way, this is a separate condition that requires specialist treatment. Advice. But now that you've completed your treatment, you aren't sure if you're ready for life after treatment as a cancer survivor. Everything you're feeling right now is normal for cancer survivors. Go easy at first, but try to increase the intensity and amount of exercise you get as you recover. However, the good news is that with the right support it can be managed and overcome. Anxiety and distress can affect the quality of life of patients with cancer and their families. Patient aims to help the world proactively manage its healthcare, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals. Eventually these fears will fade, though they may never go away completely. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Patient is a UK registered trade mark. © Patient Platform Limited. Returning to work can be a particularly big step for some, and it's important to acknowledge if you need additional support at this stage. Chemotherapy nausea and vomiting: Prevention is best defense. Be kind to yourself and patient," advises Coombes. How to get nutrition during cancer treatment, Routine cancer screening during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Infographic: Scalp Cooling Therapy for Cancer, Small cell, large cell cancer: What this means, Stem cells: What they are and what they do, Thalidomide: Research advances in cancer and other conditions. Ask about your body — it 's normal and what signs and symptoms to watch for discuss with your completed! 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