Dealing with the Fear

Good Morning Cancer Patients;
There is never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer and as soon as that happens you become overwhelmed by the fear factor. Unfortunately the fear factor will be your companion on your journey with cancer from here on out. I don't think it ever goes away, only subsides in its intensity. The sooner you can get control of your fear, the sooner you stop wasting your needed energy and strength on the fear and start using them for treatment and recovery, as well as living a quality life with cancer as more cancer patients do today.

Don't underestimate the grip fear can have on you with cancer and how it can demotivate you and distract you from executing the task at hand, which is to get through the treatment and contribute to its success. As your journey continues you will find the fear factor interfering at various times: waiting to hear about test results; getting tested; going through surgery; feeling new pains in your body; worrying about recurrence; and numerous other times. You should recognize when the intensity the fear increases and begin to settle it quickly.

Several ways to settle the fear include: mentally removing yourself from the situation that has caused the fear to intensify; recognizing the toll the fear can have on you and mentally forcing it out of your thought process when it emerges; creating a distraction so you won't dwell on what is causing the fear; continue living your life and not letting the fear interrupt you.

Fear on this journey is not your friend but it is your companion. Don't let it strip you of the energy you need for treatment and recovery.