Dealing with Breast Cancer Fears
Breast cancer is not only the most common cancer diagnosed in women; it's also one of every woman's greatest fears. People talk about it all the time, and messages about breast cancer are everywhere: TV and radio, magazines and newspapers, billboards along the highway, the back of cereal boxes.
Being surrounded by breast cancer issues at home and in your community can bring on a lot of anxiety. It can be reassuring to know that this is the best time in history to have a serious disease like breast cancer, because there are so many new and effective treatments. But that knowledge may not stop the fears. You may be reading this because you have concerns about:
- being at high risk for breast cancer
- supporting a loved one who is dealing with breast cancer
- being diagnosed with this disease
- going through treatment
- having the cancer come back.
It is normal to be scared of something that can threaten your life, as breast cancer can. But the fear of breast cancer brings with it other concerns and uncomfortable emotions, such as anxiety, uncertainty, feeling out of control, losing self-esteem and femininity, and worries about your daughters' risk of breast cancer.
Throughout Breastcancer.org, you'll find answers and suggestions that may help resolve some uncertainties. And in the Discussion Boards and chat rooms, you can get (and give) a lot of support at any time of day or night.
In this section we try to help you deal with some of the concerns that you may have now:
- Worried About Breast Cancer?
- Learn the facts about breast cancer to resolve confusion and ease fears.
- Coping with Fear of Diagnosis
- Find out what to do and where you can get support if you're waiting for the results of a breast biopsy or you've just been diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Coping with Fear of Treatment
- Worried that the treatment for breast cancer may be worse than the disease? Finding out what to expect can help take away many of those fears.
- Coping with Fear of Recurrence
- If cancer comes back, it's normal to be frightened. Find out how you can deal with recurrence and what you can do to lessen your fear and feel more in control of your life.
- SHRINK THE WHALE™
- The fear of breast cancer is like a whale in your living room. Learn how to SHRINK THE WHALE™ with information and support so you can go on with your life.
- Helping Those Who Love You Deal with Fear
- When you're diagnosed with breast cancer, everyone who loves you is affected. They can feel helpless and anxious too. Find out how to help one another identify and work through the fears.
- 10 Ways to Manage Fear
- There are ways to reduce those fears, tried and tested by other people with breast cancer. Know what you have to do to take charge of fear.