Cancer Can Scare You To Death . If The Cancer Doesn’t Get You, The Worry Wolf Will.
Millions of people are living with a current or past diagnosis of cancer. Just the word ‘cancer’ causes people to panic, become overcome with fear of dying, and think they are a goner. There is an immediate fear of death, life plans upset, change in lifestyle, decisions to make, medical bills to face, and a fight to survive. So often your doctor, your family, friends, and cancer specialists think that it is normal for you to be upset when you have cancer and just expect you to get over it. Easy to say. How can you really participate in your treatment plan if you are expecting the worst, and knowing it will happen?
Worry is a normal reaction to cancer. It gets worse when the disease progresses or if treatment necessary is very intense, e.g., surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Your feelings of anxiety can really make the whole situation a crisis and really make things even worse. Cancer scares people and sometimes it scares them to death before their time. If you notice, when the word ‘cancer’ comes up in a group, the tones in speaking become hushed and serious expressions spread over all the faces.
Here’s what worry over cancer can do to you and your family:
You can’t understand what the doctor is telling you.
You are focusing on your pain so much it feels worse and is worse.
Sleep is disturbed. You are laying awake thinking these days may be your last.
You lose your appetite and get nauseous
You can’t deal with any other part of your life.
You worry you will be a burden on your family.
You think maybe you should end your own life.
You are stuck, frozen, and afraid to proceed with treatment.
You think of all the things you have not done yet and feel sorrow.
You think of all that you are going to miss, memories you won’t be able to make.
You think of those who are going to be left behind and what will happen to them.
You have no confidence in any reassurance your doctor gives.
You are so afraid of treatment that you refuse to have it.
If you are normally a “worrier,” these feelings balloon up and away with a cancer diagnosis. Just the thought of having cancer make you think you are now weakened, out of control, and destined to die.
Worry and anxiety must be treated right along with any treatment for cancer. Anti anxiety medications are usually well tolerated but there may be some side effects and problems with other medications taken. It is very important to make it clear to your doctor that you need help for your fright as well as your cancer. It is also very important that if you are the husband, wife, sibling, or child of someone who is dealing with cancer to do the same thing. Don’t suffer alone or think you are a scardey cat when you have to have something to move the wolf off your bed. No one should have to sleep with that big bad boy.
Here are some important things you need to do when you are facing a diagnosis of cancer.
Listen carefully to what the doctor is saying. Take notes so you will not forget.
Ask openly for reassurance that treatment will help you get better.
Blurt out your worst fears to the doctor and ask for direct information.
Accept that it is normal to feel frightened and terrified with this diagnosis.
Talk with your family and friends about your concerns about going through this.
Seek out support groups, listen to what others say, and speak up yourself.
Tell yourself that you have gotten through a lot of bad things. You will survive this.
Visualize yourself fighting off the cancer when your thoughts go to your illness.
Avoid like the plague:
Trying to hide your fears and worries. They will only build and get worse.
Saying that the situation is hopeless and you have no control.
People who tell you to cheer up and put on a happy face.
Delaying or refusing treatment because you are scared of them.
Telling your family that it’s all over and you will soon be gone.
Cursing God and saying you have been picked out for this sickness.
Remember the little train who was afraid and kept saying “I know I can’t” who finally got up the courage to say, “I think I can” and did. You have good reason to be concerned and worried. But today, the treatment and survival rate for cancer is very good. This is no time for you to give yourself over to your negative self. Think positive and work towards having the treatment you need, getting the support you must have, taking medications to help you through this, and asking a Higher Power for the grace to get through this and having a full recovery. You can and you will.