The fear of recurrence weighs heavily on the minds of every cancer survivor, some more than others. For some it can be an overwhelming fear experienced on a daily basis, and for others, less frequent. For many patients, recurrence anxiety strikes most often around the time they are due to see their doctor. Suddenly, a typical back ache, isn’t just a back ache….could it be a symptom of the return of prostate cancer? Symptoms that the prostate cancer may have spread can include bone and back pain, a loss of appetite.
For some, there are some lessons to be learned from cancer survivorship:
- Cancer is a gift that keeps giving in ways you wish you could decline
- There are specific symptoms that require you to seek medical attention.
- Any sudden life-changing symptom is a reminder that your status of good health can be fragile and temporary.
- Cancer survivorship is stressful because of both real and imagined difficulties.
Click here to read the whole article of the author’s perspective in recurrence anxiety: “Recurrence Anxiety Strikes Unexpectedly.”