Fear of Recurrence
Fear of recurrence is a common and natural feeling. Sometimes, the doctor or nurse can say with confidence that the cancer has been completely removed. More often, a patient is given only an estimate of the chance of cure. Whether the estimate is high or low, the future may remain uncertain for some time. Fortunately, there are many stories of people who were told they had only a few months to live and were telling the tale years later. Gaining a sense of control and staying informed goes a long way in coping with fears of recurrence.
Having survived cancer makes some patients hypervigilant in looking for any physical sign that the cancer has returned. They find themselves second-guessing any new feeling and worrying about every symptom. This is normal behavior, and should diminish with time.
Your doctor or nurse will discuss with you the particular health issues that should concern you and will give you a schedule for follow-up visits. These visits will become less frequent over time.
Hereditary Concerns
A cancer diagnosis may generate worries that children or other family members will develop the disease. You may wish to think of your own diagnosis as a "red flag" that will alert family members to potential problems. You may also want to consider genetic testing for yourself and your family. Before any testing, it is very important to spend time with a trained genetic counselor to review what the testing can and cannot tell you and to discuss the risk of employers or insurance companies using the information to discriminate against you.
