Carcinophobia: why are we afraid of getting cancer?

Since ancient times, people have experienced various fears. So, our distant ancestors were afraid mainly of natural phenomena: for example, thunderstorms, floods. Then people began to be afraid of various “evil spirits” – witches, brownies. And now more than 60% of Russians, according to the Levada Center, are subject to one form or another of cancerophobia – an uncontrollable obsessive fear of developing a malignant tumor. 

Where does this fear come from? The fact is that we learn to be afraid already in the course of our development. In childhood, adults teach us this: you can’t play with sharp objects and with fire, you can’t walk lightly dressed in winter. Because of this, we can grow up to be anxious, overly sensitive individuals. And then find other fears that we were not previously warned about – in particular, the illness of someone close to us, when we find ourselves directly inside the problem. 

Symptoms of cancerophobia

This fear manifests itself in different ways. Some people do not want to hear anything about cancer, are afraid of doctors and refuse to visit any medical institutions. A person becomes overly suspicious, which is why he refuses examinations and can perceive any minor illness as a manifestation of cancer.

This is dangerous, as constant stress worsens overall well-being, and at some points it can even provoke the onset of the disease.

In addition, by refusing to go to the doctor, a person may actually miss the moment – when the disease is still at an early stage and can not only be detected, but also easily cured.

Other people, on the contrary, can concentrate completely on this problem: constantly look for information about cancer, read the relevant medical literature, often undergo oncological screening and other examinations. 

This approach is also harmful. A person spends not only time, effort and money, but also his nerves – such people can often experience panic attacks, stress, depression. With their fears, phobic patients greatly torment themselves and their loved ones. And, unfortunately, they often cannot cope with the hypertrophy of their reaction, even if they see it. 

Common symptoms of carcinophobia:

• constant anxiety

• depression,

• increased irritability

• dulling of the emotional sphere,

• deterioration of thought processes,

• insomnia, other sleep disorders,

• increase or decrease in appetite,

• pseudodementia.

Often, cancerophobia is accompanied by panic attacks. It can be provoked by the mention of the disease in conversation or even the thought of cancer. 

Symptoms of such an attack are, in particular:

• tachycardia,

• breathing disorder, 

• increase or decrease in blood pressure,

• tingling in the chest,

• limb tremor,

• dizziness,

• confusion,

• nausea,

• frequent urge to urinate and defecate.

Why is cancer scary?

Fear of death

The fear of death is one of the deepest human fears, which is associated with our need for a sense of security. And he is one of the most common causes of carcinophobia. 

Cancer is a really serious and dangerous disease. However, only advanced stages of cancer can lead to death: the fourth, in some cases the third stage. But even they in our time can be translated into a chronic form – the patient lives for many more years, periodically undergoing appropriate treatment. There are also cases of obscure self-healing.

fear of pain 

The main problem of tumors is that in the early stages they do not attract attention, do not hurt and do not disturb in any way. If pain appears, then the disease is in a neglected state. Therefore, a person should go to the doctor not because something hurts him, but for prevention. 

Fear of the unknown

Fear of cancer is largely associated with uncertainty. In the case of many other diseases, treatment and rehabilitation schemes are clear, but behind the word “cancer” there can be hundreds of different diagnoses, each of which requires a specific approach. 

The cancer patient experiences tremendous stress and asks a thousand questions that only increase anxiety. Where to go? How to be treated? Will I lose my hair? Will you have to go under the knife? And, most importantly, what is the prognosis? 

The problem is that cancer is usually seen as something separate from life. The patient and his relatives are directed to treatment and recovery, and the rest of life seems to be forgotten. In fact, life, even with oncology, continues, only adjusted for changed circumstances. And this, strange as it sounds, is a certain test that needs to be overcome. Overcoming gives strength and a better understanding of oneself.

Fear of someone else’s opinion

Many are greatly frightened by pity from others: “It’s not a shame that you got sick, but how they look at you.” How it works? Chemotherapy affects everyone in different ways: someone loses their hair, the structure of nails changes, their appearance worsens. And others, wanting to cheer up the patient, tell him awkward compliments that can only hurt more.

Fear of financial problems

The threat of losing a job and facing financial hardship if the diagnosis becomes known or if the person is unable to perform their tasks often also makes people worry about cancer.

Fear of family discord

Women are often afraid that as soon as their relatives find out about their diagnosis, problems will begin in the family. Therefore, they can pull to the last with a trip to the doctor. But if the relationship in the family is stable, trusting, then no unpleasant news can destroy them. Close people will help to cope with the difficulties associated with the disease, as well as with many others that occur in life.