Fear of recurrence in cancer survivors

When cancer comes back after treatment it's called a cancer recurrence. Fear of cancer coming back is common in cancer survivors. Though they may go years without any sign of disease, cancer survivors say the thought of recurrence is always with them. You might worry that every ache or pain is a sign of your cancer recurring. Eventually these fears will fade, though they may never go away completely.

Cope with your fear by being honest with yourself about your feelings. Try not to feel guilty about your feelings or ignore them in hopes that they'll go away. Ask your provider about what you can do to reduce your chance of a cancer recurrence.

Once you've done all you can to reduce that risk, acknowledge your fears. Take control of those fears and do what you can to influence your future health. Try to:

• Take care of your body. Focus on keeping yourself healthy. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fit exercise into your day. Go easy at first, but try to increase the intensity and amount of exercise you get as you recover. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling refreshed.

  These actions may help your body recover from cancer treatment and also help put your mind at ease by giving you a greater sense of control over your life.

• Go to all of your follow-up appointments. You may fear the worst when it's time for your next follow-up appointment. Don't let that stop you from going.

  Use the time with your provider to ask questions about any symptoms that worry you. Write down your concerns and discuss them at your next appointment. If you have a friend or family member you trust, bring that person with you for support.

  Ask about your risk of recurrence and what symptoms to watch for. Knowing more may help you feel more in control.

• Get all of your follow-up tests. Discuss with your provider plans for follow-up and monitoring of your cancer. Together, you will formulate a specific follow-up plan based on your individual situation. Not everyone needs regular scans or blood tests.

Ask your provider about creating a plan to look for late side effects of cancer therapy. Many cancer treatments can cause side effects years later. Ask your provider whether you will need scans and regular appointments.

• Be open about your fears. Express your concerns to your friends, family, other cancer survivors, and your provider or a counselor. If you're uncomfortable with the idea of discussing your fears, try recording your thoughts in a journal.
• Keep busy. Get up, get dressed and get out of the house when you can. Find activities that will take your mind off your fears. Have a plan and routine for every day.

Most cancer survivors report that the fear of recurrence fades with time. But certain events can trigger your fears. The feelings might be especially strong before follow-up visits to your provider or around the anniversary of your cancer diagnosis.