Managing Cancer related Side Effects

Table of Contents

About Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, uneasiness, or scared about the current situation or about something that might happen in the future.

 

Most people diagnosed with cancer have anxiety issues. Mild anxiety might cause nausea, diarrhea and affect the immune system of an individual. Severe anxiety affects mental health and disturbs your daily routine work.

 

Anxiety is a common symptom in sick people and also in the family members of sick people. Anxiety commonly coexists with cancer. On diagnosis of cancer anxiety increases.

Types of anxiety disorder

Some of the common anxiety disorders are –

  • Panic disorder
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Fear of specific thing or situation (specific phobia)
  • Social anxiety disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

The possible reasons for anxiety in cancer patients

  • Fear of chemotherapy and its side effects
  • Most people fear death
  • Cancer patients fear developing the disease again after going through the treatment
  • Worried about relationship with close ones

Signs and symptoms of anxiety

The physical and psychological sign and symptoms of anxiety are –

 

  • Dry mouth
  • Tension in the muscles
  • Worrying a lot
  • Anxiousness reflects on the face
  • Trembling
  • Restless
  • Short-tempered most of the time

Screening of anxiety in cancer patients

Screening of anxiety in cancer patients is done by asking certain specific questions. The questions might be related to feelings, source of fear, any physical symptoms, changes in daily routine, etc.

 

It is not easy to discuss the problem of anxiety but communicating your feelings with your healthcare provider or with your close ones can be of great help.

 

Screening is done by healthcare professionals in regular intervals during and after the treatment.

How to deal with anxiety

  • It is important to realize that cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment causing anxiety is normal.
  • Talking to your healthcare provider helps in managing the symptoms.
  • Enough sleep is important to relieve anxiety.
  • Practicing yoga and meditation helps in managing anxiety.
  • Joining a group of cancer fighters helps.
  • Communicating your thoughts with your close ones and your healthcare provider helps in coping with anxiety.
  • Maintain a healthy diet and a healthy support group.

 

It is not easy to live with cancer. One has to make a lot of adjustments while coping with cancer. Anxiety management needs to be changed in different stages of a cancer patient’s life.

About Mozocare

Mozocare is a medical access platform for hospitals and clinics to assist patients to access the best medical care at affordable prices. It offers medical information, medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, laboratory consumables, and other allied services.

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