Fear of recurrence in cancer survivors

Fear of recurrence is very common in cancer survivors. Though they may go years without any sign of disease, cancer survivors say the thought of recurrence is always with them. You might worry that every ache or pain is a sign of your cancer recurring. Eventually these fears will fade, though they may never go away completely.

Cope with your fear by being honest with yourself about your feelings. Try not to feel guilty about your feelings or ignore them in hopes that they'll go away. Ask your doctor about what you can do to reduce your chance of a cancer recurrence. Once you've done all you can to reduce that risk, acknowledge your fears. Take control of those fears and do what you can to influence your future health. Try to:

• Take care of your body. Focus on keeping yourself healthy. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fit exercise into your day. Go easy at first, but try to increase the intensity and amount of exercise you get as you recover. Get enough sleep so that you wake feeling refreshed. These actions may help your body recover from cancer treatment and also help put your mind at ease by giving you a greater sense of control over your life.

• Go to all of your follow-up appointments. You may fear the worst when it's time for your next follow-up appointment. Don't let that stop you from going. Use the time with your doctor to ask questions about any signs or symptoms that worry you. Write down your concerns and discuss them at your next appointment. Ask about your risk of recurrence and what signs and symptoms to watch for. Knowing more may help you feel more in control.

• Be open about your fears. Express your concerns to your friends, family, other cancer survivors, and your doctor or a counselor. If you're uncomfortable with the idea of discussing your fears, try recording your thoughts in a journal.

• Keep busy. Get out of the house and find activities that will take your mind off your fears.

Most cancer survivors report that the fear of recurrence fades with time. But certain events can trigger your fears. The feelings might be especially strong before follow-up visits to your doctor or the anniversary of your cancer diagnosis

Breast Cancer - Facing Breast Reconstruction

Those of us who need -- or choose -- a total or radical mastectomy will probably consider having that breast 'rebuilt' through breast reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction can be done either during your surgery or at a future time, and they are generally made from your own tissues or by using implants filled with saline. (Because of the controversies over the potential dangers of silicone breast implants, the US Food and Drug Administration will only allow silicone breast implants to be used in clinical trials).

Whether to reconstruct and how is a decision each of us needs to make for ourselves, along with input from our support network, our oncologist and other medical professionals such as a plastic surgeon.

Share your experience!

If you've had a breast removed and have had -- or decided not to have -- reconstructive surgery, share your experience. Telling your story will help others when it comes time for them to make this important decision.