Fear-The Untreated Side Effect of Cancer

As I look back on my eight year journey with prostate cancer I realize there's one side effect of cancer that's usually ignored, unspoken, and hardly ever treated. Those diagnosed with cancer are usually left to deal with one of the most common, and life altering symptoms, by themselves, without help, or treatment.

I'm referring to FEAR- An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief  that someone or something is dangerous and likely to cause pain or a life-altering threat.

Fear has an immediate impact on our body, our emotions, our thoughts, our relationships, our ability to sleep, our mood, our decision making process, how we function at work, at home, and everything we do. Fear has a major impact on our ability to take care of ourselves and others. Fear impacts our ability to give and receive affection. Fear impacts our ability to relate to friends and family. Fear impacts our sexuality and sex life. Fear impacts our sense of well-being and health.

The fear generated by a diagnosis of cancer is so powerful that according to an artcle in the
Boston Globe:
"Roughly 1 in 5 cancer patients developed post-traumatic stress disorder within six months of their diagnosis — and a small percentage still experienced trauma-related symptoms six years later, according to new research."

How can you know if you’re among those who are coping with Post-Traumatic Stress?According to an article on cancer.net, here's a list of nine symptoms
are some of the symptoms of PTSD.

• Nightmares and flashbacks
• Avoiding places, events, people, or things that bring back bad memories
• Strong feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or shame
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• Continuous feelings of fear or anger
• Loss of interest in activities and relationships that used to be enjoyable
• Self-destructive behavior, such as drug or alcohol abuse
• Frightening or unwanted thoughts
• Difficulty feeling emotions
  
  
  • https://www.cancer.net/survivorship/life-after-cancer/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-and-cancer
    
    

  https://www.cancer.net/survivorship/life-after-cancer/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-and-cancer