Sandra Bollen-Hughes offers ways to dispel those noises in the dark and face your carcinophobia.
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When I was a small child, I was afraid of the dark. The worst was the creaking sounds in my room. That groaning noise from the inky darkness can be extremely frightening. Luckily, one day I mentioned this to my mother. She explained how furniture shrinks in the cool of the night and the wood makes that noise, successfully dispelling my fear with a wave of her Mama Wand.
But some fears can be much harder to dispel. In the field of psycho-oncology, it’s well known that after successful treatment of cancer, cancer survivors frequently have a fear of cancer recurrence. This has the official title of carcinophobia, or less officially cancerlitis.
Cancer patients aren’t the only ones to develop carcinophobia; people who have had no brush with cancer can be afraid of getting cancer as well.
Techno-mumbo-jumbo
Fear of getting cancer lies on a continuum, from normal concerns about getting cancer through to extreme fear, and even delusional beliefs. Also, the form of the fears can vary significantly. Speaking technically, fears of getting cancer may not always be a phobia per se but may instead be an illness anxiety disorder (hypochondria), or a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or, at extremes, even part of a schizophrenic disorder.
A licensed psychologist or psychiatrist may need to do in-depth interviews to help determine the underlying causes and so develop individualised treatment plans. But obviously not everybody who has a fear of getting cancer needs intervention.
Orange and red flags
Orange flag symptoms of fear of cancer include: intrusive thoughts about cancer; heightened fear of death; either avoidance of cancer-related images, information or seeking out of information or professional guidance; and avoidance of medical checks or repeated requests for medical checks.
Physical symptoms include stress-related symptoms of palpitations, nausea, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping and/or difficulty concentrating.
These symptoms are orange flags of which to be aware. However, the red flag is when these symptoms start to interfere with your ability to function at work, at home, or socially.
Managing the orange flags
It can be helpful to know that suffering from a fear of recurrence of cancer is common after having had cancer. Prof Carol-Ann Benn regards this form of cancerlitis as a long-term condition associated with having had cancer that must be appropriately managed.
She recommends exercise, diet, lifestyle changes, and learning to read your changed body as necessary ways of managing it. She recommends knowing your medicines well and knowing what side effects to expect.
Other recommendations for post-cancer fears include finding a doctor you trust, getting your recommended checks, monitoring your use of internet searches, and being open to get support from others.
Similar strategies can be used by people who have not previously had cancer. It’s also helpful to recognise that fears of threat are instinctive to humans and that cancer has been more feared than any other disease since the 1920s. However, we need to educate ourselves and realise that the field of medicine has progressed a great deal since then, making many cancers treatable or curable. Knowing just this can address a number of misperceptions, which keep us fearing the noises in the dark.
Managing the red flags
Ultimately, however, it would be wise to seek out medical and therapeutic help if you find your efforts to manage your fears aren’t working. This is particularly true if you are not coping with your work or family commitments, or becoming isolated due to your fears.
As a cancer survivor, my advice to others is always, “Don’t let cancer dictate to you.”
You must live a full and happy life and not let the fear of the noises in the dark ruin your day in the sun. Professionals have medical and therapeutic techniques to assist you. You do not need to suffer alone. There are solutions.
References
Benn, C-A.; (2022) Cancerlitis – Do you have it?; BUDDIES FOR LIFE MAGAZINE. (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
MEET THE EXPERT – Sandra Bollen-Hughes
Sandra Bollen-Hughes is a counselling psychologist. In 2015 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and realised the great burden of stress that cancer places on patients and so she developed an interest in cancer counselling. She went on to study cancer counselling to gather insight into the field of psycho-oncology. She runs a practice both for general and cancer counselling.
Header image by Freepik
