The cancerophobia, Also called carcinophobia, it is the persistent fear of contracting cancer for the first time or that it will reproduce again if it has already happened before. It is a pathological situation that causes real disorders and in which any physical symptoms that may be felt are exaggerated. The fear has to be irrational, persistent over time and not justified.
On the other hand, related to cancerophobia is hypochondria. The hypochondriac patient has a constant concern motivated by the fear of suffering from a disease, while in cancerphobia or another specific phobia the only fear is the possibility of acquiring it for the first time or that it will recur in the case of people who have already suffered it (but without believing that you already have).
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Fear of cancer can be due to various reasons:
The possibility that cancer can be hereditary is very important given the probability of suffering from this phobia, especially when there have already been cases of this disease in the family.
Currently, genetic studies help lessen the problem. Thanks to these, it is possible to determine whether or not certain genetic alterations have been inherited.
If it is positive, the patient is closely monitored to detect the first signs that precede the disease and be able to act immediately.
With these studies, not only the fear of suffering from cancer is reduced, but an even optimistic attitude is adopted as the person can be aware of not having genetic alterations that can trigger the disease.
40% of those who receive this diagnosis need psychological and emotional support. Cancer abruptly affects the life of the patient, his family and the work and social environment.
There are changes in relationships with family, partner and friends, affecting their behavior in the generation of feelings such as anger, rage, depression, or guilt.
When you have had cancer and it has been overcome, the fear is centered on the fear that it will reappear.
The check-ups that these patients undergo periodically until, once they are definitively cured, they are discharged, should serve to reduce the fear of the reappearance of the disease.
However, many patients go more frequently to the doctor for check-ups and are alert to a possible relapse. It has been proven through studies that there is no direct relationship between the real risk and the perceived risk of contracting the disease and that through exhaustive information we can better manage fear.
There are genetic loads and family history that can favor or increase the chances of contracting cancer, but nothing is taken for granted.
Not only the genetic factor is relevant to be able to contract this disease. There are risk factors that in most cases can be avoided, such as poor eating habits or substance use.
There is also research showing how Type C and cancer are related. In 1980, the researchers Morris and Greer raised the existence of a behavior pattern that they called type C, but previously Gendron found that anxious and depressed women were prone to cancer.
It was in 1959, when Leshan carried out a bibliographic review on this subject and concluded that hopelessness, loss and depression are frequently predictive factors in the appearance of cancer.
The result of this set of thoughts towards cancer disease is the fear of suffering from it, which can cause even more suffering in the person than the disease itself.
This concern can cause two contrary behaviors in the person: the desire to undergo excessive unnecessary diagnostic tests or, on the contrary, flee from having any test for fear of diagnosing the pathology.
People affected by this phobia feel that if they are in contact with people who suffer from this disease, they will be able to acquire it. Being with a cancer patient produces various symptoms and discomforts that make them think that the disease can spread throughout their body.
These fears are mainly associated with the fear of death, since, despite advances, cancer is currently still closely related to death.
Having to some degree a fear of developing cancer or any other type of disease is normal in any individual. In fact, most people experience this fear at some point in life..
In the case of those who suffer from this phobia, the fear is so intense that it paralyzes them and makes them dysfunctional, in these individuals any symptom is exaggerated. Some of the behaviors that these people adopt as a consequence of this irrational fear are:
It is very important that if you recognize the symptoms that I have described before and if you notice that this is affecting your daily life, you get in touch with a healthcare professional who can help you more directly to overcome your phobia..
The most common and effective treatment for specific phobias, such as cancerophobia, is treatment with psychological therapies, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapies.
This type of treatment will always have to be developed by a health specialist. Although this is the most common treatment, the ideal is to find a useful treatment that can be adapted to the needs and circumstances of each person in order to overcome the situation successfully..
In addition to getting reliable information that helps to reduce apprehension (including about advanced treatment technologies), it is also important to talk with friends and family.
Social support in this phobia is very important. People close to you can be of great help in relieving stress and anxiety, as well as talking to people who have survived cancer to build a realistic view of the chances of beating the disease, as well as the causes necessary to contract it..
It is always a good time to adopt a healthy lifestyle. It is vitally important to understand that getting sick does not always mean that we will have an unfavorable outcome..
There are steps that can be taken, which are under our control and allow us to substantially improve our health and quality of life, while reducing the risk of suffering from certain diseases. If we go to the doctor in time, we can detect the disease in its initial stages, with a high percentage of cures and few sequelae in us..
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