Anxiety

Being diagnosed with cancer can be a devastating experience. It is natural to feel a range of powerful emotions such as fear, constant worry, anxiety, panic or depression. People cope with these emotions in different ways and this depends on the type of person they are, the support they have and how much the cancer and its treatment is affecting their lives.

You may feel frightened and worry about what will happen to you. You may have thoughts such as ‘Will I cope with the side effects of treatment?’, ‘Will the treatment work?’ or ‘Will the cancer come back? You may have more extreme emotions such as constant fear and feelings of panic. For some people, these feelings can be so severe that they have a ‘panic attack’.

Up to one in three people with cancer experience anxiety. Symptoms of anxiety include feeling irritable or short tempered, excessive worry, being unable to concentrate, unable to make decisions, getting tired very easily, difficulty sleeping and poor appetite.

Many people experience physical symptoms of anxiety, such as thumping of the heart (palpitations), shortness of breath or an urge to over breathe, sweating, dry mouth, trembling, dizziness or feeling light headed, tense and aching muscles, dry cough, nausea, diarrhoea, or pins and needles. These symptoms are very real and are not necessarily caused by the cancer. They are due to the natural reaction to stress, when our bodies release the hormone adrenaline. Adrenaline speeds up body functions and results in a ‘fight or flight’ response which protects us from danger. If you are repeatedly in stressful situations, such as seeing doctors, having tests or cancer treatments, your body does not have enough time to rest and return to normal between the stressful events. This can result in persistent feelings of worry, anxiety and loss of control over your situation.

There are many ways of dealing with fear and anxiety. There are simple things you can do yourself to understand your worries and to help yourself relax and cope. There are also medical and psychological treatments (such as counselling or talking therapies) available to help people manage anxiety.

Medication

People with severe anxiety may need medications to help them feel calmer and more able to cope. They can quickly relieve the symptoms of anxiety in the short term, however in the long term the underlying cause may need to be addressed to completely resolve the anxiety. Please contact your oncology doctor, clinical nurse specialist (if you have one) or your GP for further advice and to discuss whether medications may be able to help you.

If you have had a previous diagnosis of anxiety and have been prescribed anti-anxiety medications, please take them as prescribed by your doctor. Do not exceed the maximum dose.

Tips for Dealing with Anxiety

Firstly, do not feel bad about your feelings, and try not to compare yourself with other cancer patients. There is no right or wrong way to feel about having cancer. We all deal with things in our own way and a lot depends on other circumstances in our lives.

Expressing Feelings and Worries

It may help to talk to friends and family, or keep a diary to express your feelings and worries. Tell your doctors and nurses about your specific worries. They will be able to explain things in more detail or offer you further help with issues you are worried about. Just voicing your concerns or fears will help you feel less alone and less helpless.

Relaxation

Relaxation is a good way to improve your emotional wellbeing. Try simple relaxation and breathing techniques that you can learn to do yourself.

You may also like to try simple massage techniques that you can learn to do by yourself or with the help of a friend or relative.

Physical Activity and Exercise

Physical activity may help reduce anxiety. If possible, try to take some gentle regular exercise.

Sleep

When you are anxious, falling asleep may be difficult. Try using relaxation techniques. It may help to change a few things about when and where you sleep. It is important to establish a routine in the evenings to help you relax for bedtime. Be patient with any changes you do make as it may take a couple of weeks to get back into a good sleep routine.

Psychological (Non-Drug) Therapies

There will be people at your cancer centre who will be able to help you manage your anxiety. Your doctor or nurse may suggest you see a counsellor or psychologist for further help and support. Or they could put you in touch with someone who can help you learn more advanced relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or meditation, to help manage anxiety. Please contact your oncology doctor, clinical nurse specialist (if you have one) or your GP for further advice.

You may like to try complementary therapies to help manage your anxiety.

There are support services available at St James’s Hospital which you may like to get in contact with for help in managing your anxiety.