| Anxiety and cancer go hand in hand. When a | | | | be from a fear of dying or the pain of the |
| person is diagnosed with cancer, anxiety is very | | | | disease of the treatment. Oncologists and medical |
| common. Depending on the prognosis of the | | | | facilities that deal with cancer patients will have |
| disease, the anxiety can be extreme. Living with | | | | resources for cancer patients and family |
| mile or extreme anxiety can be very, very | | | | members who are dealing with cancer related |
| difficult for the cancer patient. | | | | anxiety. |
| Anxiety can also hit family members very hard. | | | | If the anxiety is mild, things like eating right, |
| Imagine having a child or a parent diagnosed with | | | | getting enough sleep and exercise can help. People |
| cancer. That could also cause a great deal of | | | | can try meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and |
| anxiety. Any loving parent may practically feel | | | | other relaxation techniques. If the anxiety is more |
| panicked having a child diagnosed with cancer. A | | | | severe and the natural and non-medical things are |
| young child or teenager could become panicked if | | | | not working, a cancer patient may need to try |
| a parent was diagnosed. Think of the fear of loss | | | | psychotherapy or medications. A psychiatrist |
| in the mind of a child associated with cancer. | | | | would need to work closely with the oncologist to |
| Anxiety can also come on suddenly and severely | | | | make sure there would be no significant problems |
| in the form of a panic attack. A panic attack can | | | | from possible medication interactions. |
| hit anywhere and it can happen without any | | | | Just as it is important for the cancer patient to be |
| particular trigger. It can come on in a store, in an | | | | treated for anxiety, the primary caregivers should |
| elevator, at home or while driving. If panic attacks | | | | seek help if needed as well. A cancer patient |
| are not treated, they can be induced by being | | | | needs to be around upbeat and positive people. |
| back in the place where they first happened. | | | | Anyone taking care of a cancer patient who is |
| So what is one to do to deal with the anxiety? | | | | exhibiting significant signs of stress and anxiety will |
| Any oncologist will recognize that a cancer patient | | | | not be as effective in caring for the patient. |
| is likely to have mild or extreme anxiety. It may | | | | |