It's perfectly understandable if you have fears of recurrence. No one
wants to get cancer again. Living with some fears of recurrence,
especially when you go back in for check-ups, is a common experience for
many cancer survivors. However, fears of recurrence may get so
overwhelming that they make it difficult to move on with your life and
adjust to life after cancer. If you have fears of recurrence, it is
possible to manage them either by yourself or with the help of a
professional counselor.

Who worries about recurrence?

While recurrence is a concern for many survivors, some survivors are more
afraid of it than others. You might think about recurrence more if you had
a kind of cancer that was difficult to treat. You may be someone who is
usually very calm and level headed when it comes to other things, but
fears about the cancer coming back may be too much for you to handle.

There is no way to determine who will worry about recurrence and who will
not. It doesn't matter how old you are, what cancer type you had, or how
long you have been a survivor - anyone can experience fears of recurrence.
That's why survivors may want to think about whether they have fears of
recurrence and whether they need professional help to manage those fears.

What are signs that a survivor may have fears of recurrence?

Below are some symptoms that you might experience if you worry about
recurrence:

   * You think you might have cancer again when you have any aches,
lingering coughs or headaches
   * You notice the normal minor aches and pains in your body that never
bothered you before cancer
   * You are afraid to rebuild your life because you are too scared you
might get cancer again

Don't forget that even though you had cancer, it's still possible for you
to get common physical illnesses like a cough, cold or a common ache. Many
aches and pains in your body are not related to cancer. But anytime you
have concerns about your health, you should talk to your health care team.

Many oncologists operate by the two week rule: any pain or symptom that
goes away in less than two weeks is not usually something to worry about.
This does not mean that you have to wait two weeks to call your health
care team when you have concerns about your health. Let your health care
team help you understand what you are experiencing.

A therapist, social worker or other member of your health care team can
help you learn how to better manage your fears of recurrence. It's OK to
live with some fears of recurrence and not seek professional help;
however, any fears that are overwhelming and seriously interfering with
your quality of life should be discussed with a professional counselor.

You might want professional counseling if:

   * You constantly worry about recurrence
   * You think about your cancer recurring before you go to bed at night
and the first thing in the morning
   * You go for more than a few weeks without sleeping well
   * You don't feel hungry for days
   * You don't want to spend time with your friends or continue your
usual routines
   * You can't concentrate at school or work

What can a survivor do to manage fears of recurrence?

Below is a brief list.

   * Talk to a health care professional about your risk of recurrence
   * Talk to your friends and family to find out if they have similar
fears
   * Talk to a professional therapist if fears of recurrence overwhelm
you
   * Find a support group and discuss your fears with other cancer
survivors
(like this newsgroup)
Excerpt from http://www.livestrong.org/site/<snipped -
invalid>/Fear_of_Recurrence_Detailed_Information.htm