Canceritis

Signs that you may have CANCERITIS

by Bethany Aronow, MA, LPC

Cancer-what?  Canceritis. You may have finished your cancer treatment. You may be one day out from your diagnosis, or ten years out. If you are a cancer survivor, chances are you will have Canceritis at some point.  It’s common, it won’t be the end of you, but it plays with you and chips away at your peace of mind. No fun! Canceritis is an inflated fear of cancer recurrence.

Let me ask these questions to help you figure out if you are among the masses of survivors who has experienced Canceritis.

Do you worry that every pain you experience now is a sign that the cancer has returned?  Do you wonder if every headache is a sign that the cancer has metastasized to your brain? Even though odds are you have a regular, run-of the mill headache, which by the way, may be more pronounced because of your anxiety (Canceritis).

Do you suffer from “white coat syndrome” every time you have a follow-up with your oncologist?  White coat syndrome is hypertension (elevated blood pressure) caused by anxiety about needing to see your doctor even though you have been fine, and you have no concerns to discuss.  You still can’t help but worry you may be about to hear that the cancer has returned.

Canceritis is real, whether the cancer is or not. It’s driven by genuine fear (rational or irrational) of recurrence. Dr. Jeff Kane, MD has written about Canceritis in his blog, Healthcare As Though People Mattered. Dr. Kane states, “Cancer bedevils everyone who’s had it, and it seems to be permanent.  Sure, every time it happens you get a little more used to it, so a little less anxious, but it persists anyway …  This invisible little mischief-maker rides constantly on your shoulder.”  

There is no clinical diagnosis code for Canceritis, but if you have it you will know it!  Let’s talk about ways to outsmart this demon.

How to quiet Canceritis

Avoid emotional frenzies.  Find and use strategies to manage your anxiety (e.g., meditation, guided imagery, exercise, counseling). When you’re in your doctor’s office and you can just feel your blood pressure rise when the nurse takes out the cuff, take slow, deep breaths. Now picture yourself somewhere you’d rather be.

Recognize your distorted thoughts. Learn how to work with these thoughts so that they don’t get the best of you. Jumping to conclusions is a common cognitive distortion for us.  Dr. David Burns, the author of The Feeling Good Handbook, describes this distortion as “making a negative interpretation even though there are no definitive facts that convincingly support this conclusion.”  Tell yourself, “I have absolutely no facts to make sense of this scary assumption.” Ask yourself, “Really, do I need the added aggravation of banking on what I don’t know if it’s just going to put me in a head spin?” It might help to just focus on the moment. Was your last report good? Ok, celebrate in this milestone that’s yours right now.

Find people to talk to.  Maybe join a support group (in-person or online) or call a cancer hotline and speak with a trained volunteer who’s seen this, heard this, maybe even been there.  Holding it in and letting the thoughts spin inside your head will only heighten your anxiety.  Some counselors actually specialize in psycho-oncology. You may find someone in your area through the International Psycho-Oncology Society http://www.ipos-society.org/about/contact_us.aspx. If they can’t find a practitioner near you, they can provide short-term, over-the-phone counseling at no charge.

Track your symptoms and concerns. By taking this step you will have documentation and facts to share with your doctor.  While there is an excellent chance you’re experiencing a flare-up of Canceritis, it’s important to bear in mind that your symptoms may be a sign that there really is a cancer-related problem. So while you should try not to let these concerns highjack your peace of mind, please do have them investigated. 

Canceritis is a “light-hearted” reference to very real anxiety, it can range from distressing to crippling.  But suffering is optional.

Feeling scared is a normal reaction when you think that cancer may have returned. But how you deal with your thoughts, feelings and responses to that fear IS in your control.

Put Dr. Google aside and run any concerns by your doctor.  Until a medical professional gives you the all-clear, you are just guessing.  If you’re not feeling your best, hopefully you will find it’s just Canceritis paying a call. And you can put it to bed—let your mind rest.

Sources:

Burns, David D., MD. 1989. The Feeling Good Handbook. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

Canceritis, by Jeff Kane, M.D.