What to do if you are afraid of cancer

The irrational fear of cancer is called cancerophobia. It may appear as hypochondria and an obsessive search for symptoms of the disease in oneself, and also in the form of belief in myths about cancer and the formation of stigmas.

By statistics, more than 60% of Russians surveyed have a fear of cancer, and about a quarter are sure that the disease is contagious. Together with the Khabensky Foundation, which has been working on the problem of cancerophobia for several years, we are sorting out why this happens, and give advice on how to help yourself or a loved one cope with the fear of cancer.

Why are people afraid of cancer?

Usually, our fears don't just happen. Here are the main reasons for the appearance of carcinophobia.

There are many myths around cancer.

For a long time, the topic of cancer in Russia was quite taboo. Many cancer patients preferred not to talk about their diagnosis to others, and most media publications were devoted, as a rule, to unsuccessful treatment experiences.

People saw only negative examples, as a result of which a number of myths formed around oncological diseases. For example, that cancer is contagious, and therefore it is better to avoid contact with the sick. It is incurable and always leads to death, the treatment will be very expensive, and you will have to sell your apartment or car. Allegedly, they will not be able to cope with this disease in Russia, and it is necessary to fly abroad for this. And it can also lead to environmental conditions and stress.

As a result, cancer has a complex metaphysical and mythological frame. It is difficult for a person to accept the fact that the body itself creates a tumor that attacks it. But it is much easier to decide for yourself that fault around some external factor or mysticism.

People are afraid of death

It’s not so much the diagnosis itself that scares them, but the realization that cancer can’t be cured. At the same time, there are a lot of incurable diseases, for example, diabetes. But everyone knows that with him you can live fully and for a long time. With cancer, there are completely different ideas.

After watching movies, people imagine how they lie in tubes and die shortly after being diagnosed.

Yes, until recently, the prognosis for the course of oncological diseases was less optimistic. But modern medicine is developing at a rapid pace, and now the diagnosis does not mean the inevitable. death.

There are ways to stabilize the situation with medication and keep it under control, so that a person with cancer is able to return to normal life.

People are generally afraid of getting sick.

Illness is about losing control. And about him in society there is a special “fad”: we need to know what is happening now, what will happen in 2 minutes, in a month, in 5 years. Uncertainty is very scary.

And illness is uncertainty. Therefore, already at the first stages, patients often ask for a guarantee of the effectiveness of the treatment and declare that otherwise they will look for another doctor.

People are afraid to be alone with the disease

They think that everyone can turn away from them, and are afraid of becoming a burden to relatives and friends. They also believe that it is impossible to be weak and ask for help. Therefore, some patients may not even go anywhere so as not to show their condition.

“I will never ask for help”, “I am strong”, “I have already brought inconvenience to my family”, “I must cope on my own”- these and other thoughts often cause fear to be left alone with the disease.

People are afraid to be blamed

There is a belief that cancer occurs in people who have done bad things or psychologically did not work out their problems.

As a result, patients secure the status of some wrong person, begin to mystify and remember all their mistakes: whom and how they offended, what they are guilty of. And someone even decides that he really deserved it.

Such thoughts often visit people during serious illnesses that are difficult and long to treat.

But at the same time, no one considers himself to be guilty of catching a viral infection or catching a cold. When it comes to simple SARS, with which everyone was ill in one way or another, they are perceived more as an accident, and not as a punishment.

It is still unknown how exactly cancer appears.

A tumor is any pathological formation in the body caused by the uncontrolled growth and reproduction of atypical (abnormal) cells.

Scientists believe that the main causes of disorders that can cause a cell to break its "program" are hereditary or acquired changes in the genes.

But sometimes some external influences - for example, ultraviolet rays, chemicals, infections - can actually lead to the spontaneous appearance of a mutation.

And this information scares people a lot. They start believing in myths, which spread dubious sources on the Web, and ignore the remarks that ultraviolet does not provoke the appearance of cancer in everyone without exception.

What if I'm just afraid of cancer

You should not withdraw into yourself and stay with bad thoughts one on one.

Understand how this fear is irrational

If there were many cases of oncological diseases of a certain organ system in the family, then reasonable alertness is necessary and important. Especially if the cancer has a genetic cause. However, this does not mean at all that the disease will be detected in you. Regular checks of specific organs will help maintain confidence in your health.

If there were no such cases in the family, then the fear has no rational explanation. How to deal with it? Let's talk further.

Pass checks and examinations

Regular examinations, including extended ones, for example - checkboxes by age, allow to detect a large number of diseases at an early stage. Timely diagnosis, in turn, increases the chances of successful treatment and a quick return to normal life.

Gather more information about cancer

Study the statistics, the prevalence of cancer, the mechanism of its occurrence. This will help you understand that any one life factor for the development of cancer will not be enough. And also, it is more optimistic to look at the treatment, because medicine has made significant progress in this matter.

Contact a psychologist

If you found out that getting cancer is not so easy, and it is also quite successfully treated in most cases, but this did not help, then you need to find the deeper causes of fear. A specialist can help with this.

What to do if I am afraid of getting cancer from someone who is already sick

If it were possible, then all those who interact with the patient would also get sick. Undoubtedly, risk they have the development of this disease, but not because of the “infection”.

If cancer had an infectious nature, it would be much easier to develop a prevention system and rid a person of it forever by vaccinating.

However, this is not the case. Oncological diseases develop as a result of a cascade of mutations in the human body. And it's official proven.

However, when oncologists refute the myth about the contagiousness of cancer, they make a remark that there are viruses, increasing the risk of its development. For example, hepatitis, HIV, human papillomavirus. WHO also classifies infections such as Helicobacter pylori and the virus Epstein - Barr. Therefore, it is important to take care of your health - for example, get vaccinated against hepatitis and HPV.

What if I don't want to be tested

For some, regular check-ups have already become a habit, but doing a full examination for the first time can be scary. Here's how to fix it.

Start with small surveys

For example, go to a therapist and get a referral for general blood analysis. Or get your skin checked by a dermatologist. You can also accustom yourself to periodic examinations, starting with those organs and systems that do not cause you concern. Small pinpoint checkups will help you feel that everything is not so scary, and gradually get used to the examinations.

Find a specific benefit for yourself

Preventive examinations not only allow you to detect diseases in time, but also provide more information about the characteristics of your body.

For example, that it is necessary to reduce the consumption of certain products in order to feel better.

Or about the fact that, having adjusted the work thyroid gland, people with increased excitability can get rid of anxiety and begin to enjoy life. Vitamin deficiency also seriously affects health. By adjusting their level, you can become more enduring and productive, as well as improve sleep.

And all this can significantly improve the quality of life.

Charitable Konstantin Khabensky Foundation since 2008, has been helping children and young adults under 25 with brain tumors receive the necessary medical care on time and return to a full life. If you encounter this problem, just follow the link above.