Cancerophobia: What’s behind the fear of cancer and that these do

Oncophobia or carcinophobia is the fear of cancer , including cancer. Most often it occurs in people predisposed to increased anxiety and suspiciousness after a collision with oncology in another person.       

A predisposition may arise in a child whom anxious parents constantly take to doctors. He learns to be attentive to his health and grows into an anxious adult.      

If a family member, close friend, or coworker dies of cancer, an obsessive fear of cancer can develop .   

Often a person has a pain, and he strengthens his suspicions. He loses weight, begins to look bad, his appetite disappears. For most, these are signs of cancer. A person goes to oncologists, oncologists find nothing and refer to a psychotherapist, because it is most likely depression , which manifests itself in the same symptoms – weight loss, lack of appetite, weakness, lethargy and even pain.              

If a family member, close friend, or coworker dies of cancer, an obsessive fear of cancer can develop. 

A mild degree of oncophobia can go away on its own. The man went to the examination, made sure that he had nothing, and calmed down. Fear can appear from time to time when cancer is mentioned in conversations, when someone from the environment is found to have cancer. Then it passes.       

If emotions prevail, and fear is very strong, one might say pathological, you will not be able to cope on your own . A person does not believe in rational arguments, criticism of his condition disappears . Doubts arise – they suddenly missed it, made a mistake, the doctor was caught unqualified. Obsessive thoughts interfere with work and communication, sleep is disturbed. In this state, you need to go to a psychotherapist.        

The fear of oncology can be the only thought of a person

If nothing is done about oncophobia, fear can seize all spheres of a person’s life, take away all the time and energy.   

Someone devotes their lives to looking for cancer, to double-check the opinions of doctors, to go for second and third opinions.  

She had a fear that it was oncology. In that moment, she closed her eyes and with since they did not open.      

Someone has been diligently engaged in prevention all their lives, this is called “health hypochondria.” A person begins to lead an impeccably healthy lifestyle, quits smoking, drinking, trying more and more new recipes for “cleansing the body” from the Internet.  

Someone has suspected for years that he may have an oncological disease, and refuses to go to doctors, fearing that the diagnosis will be confirmed. Against the background of experiences, a depressive state may develop.    

In my patient it was recently. Three years ago, she had a uterine bleeding, in which she is not addressed to the doctor. This condition has passed, everything was normal, but in it there was a fear that this is oncology. In that moment, she closed her eyes and with since they did not open. Says: “When I open my eyes, I have a burning sensation in my eyes, I feel bad, they are watering.” If you give a psychological explanation for this, she is so afraid of oncology that she does not want to “see” this problem.                 

Treatment of oncophobia – psychotherapy. Medicines at the request of the patient  

To cope with oncophobia, you need a psychotherapist. An expert who is well versed and in pharmacotherapy (medication therapy), and in psychology.     

At first the doctor will suggest psychotherapy: cognitive-behavioral, therapeutic hypnosis, gestalt therapy, rational therapy. Any kind of psychotherapy will give results if it is comfortable for the patient.  

They usually start with rational psychotherapy – to explain to a person what is happening to him, together to weigh the arguments for and against.     

The less anxiety, the less thoughts about oncology. 

When it is impossible to cope with conversations alone, the anxiety is too strong, the doctor suggests pharmacotherapy.

If you engage in psychotherapy and follow the recommendations of your doctor, the result, of course , will be. It must be remembered that psychotherapy is not only the work of a doctor, it is not just to come and sit and listen. The patient must study, do the assignments given by the psychotherapist. Then everything will work out.      

Independent work with anxiety is imperative. 

Defeating oncophobia in sessions with a psychotherapist is not enough. Professional support is the first step in learning how to deal with anxiety on your own.     

You can relax – do auto-training, go to yoga, learn breathing exercises, take a course of biofeedback therapy (biofeedback therapy ).   

You can be distracted and relieved of anxiety through exercise, fitness, and jogging.   

It is important to go to bed on time, not to overwork, to meet with friends, to communicate, not to withdraw into yourself, if something bothers you, to talk about it.     

You need to stop surfing the Internet and look for symptoms in yourself. This is a very important point, because many diagnose themselves over the Internet – very scary diagnoses. If something bothers you, it is better to go to the doctor.     

The less anxiety, the less thoughts about oncology. 

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