天博体育

One of my closest friends is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Terry (as I鈥檒l call her) has been cancer free for eight years鈥攍ong enough to be considered cured (generally defined as being in remission at least five years). But in no way is she 鈥渇ree鈥� of cancer. Every abnormal blood test, every callback for another mammogram terrifies her so badly she can鈥檛 sleep until doctors rule out a recurrence. In some ways, the ongoing psychological and emotional challenges she faces have been worse than the physical treatments she endured.

I thought about Terry when I read the latest government statistics on the number of in this country. Nearly 12 million Americans鈥�4% of the population鈥攁re still alive after a cancer diagnosis.

In many respects this is terrific news, and a testament to improved diagnosis and treatment options. But survivorship comes at a psychological price. We discussed these challenges at length in the聽 Harvard Mental Health Letter, but here鈥檚 a quick look at some of the major issues.

鈥淒amocles syndrome.鈥� According to Greek legend, once Damocles realized that a sword was dangling precariously over his head, he could no longer enjoy the banquet spread in front of him. In the same way, the specter of cancer hangs over some cancer survivors. They can become emotionally paralyzed and have a hard time deciding to get married, change jobs, or make other major decisions.

Fear of recurrence. Given cancer鈥檚 potential to lay dormant for a while and then spread (metastasize), cancer survivors often experience ongoing fear of recurrence. Follow-up medical visits, unexplained pain, or even sights and sounds they associate with treatment can trigger bouts of anxiety and fear that are as debilitating as those that occurred during cancer treatment.

Survivor guilt. Although happy to be alive, cancer survivors may feel guilty that they survived while fellow patients they became friendly with during treatment or as part of a support group did not. (Early after a diagnosis of cancer, people first ask, 鈥淲hy me?鈥� When survivors think about those who have died, they tend to ask, 鈥淲hy not me?鈥�)

Recognizing these challenges, the Institute of Medicine鈥檚 explored ways to help people rebuild their lives after treatment ends. You can read the report, 鈥淔rom Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost In Transition,鈥� or buy it from the .

Given that one in three Americans will face a cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives, living with cancer is a topic that touches all of us. If you are a survivor, or know someone who is, these Web sites may be useful.

If you have suggestions for dealing with the challenges of cancer survivorship, please let us know in the comment section.