As a cancer survivor you probably have a range of feelings
about your cancer and it’s treatment—from relief that your treatment has ended
to worry that your cancer may return. During treatment, most people focus on getting
through each day. But after treatment ends, a host of feelings can surface as
you make sense of your experience and learn what it means to be a childhood
cancer survivor.
Am I At Risk?
Being a survivor of childhood cancer usually entails ongoing
testing for recurrent cancer, watching out for the late effects of cancer and
its treatment, and re-entering school or the workforce. Most survivors are able
to cope with these and other stresses, but some may develop depression and
anxiety with symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
The type of cancer you had and its treatment can affect your
risk. People who had cancer of the brain or spine, cancer treatment to the
brain or spine (such as radiation to the head and chemotherapy into spinal
fluid), or bone marrow or stem cell transplants have higher risk for emotional
distress.
The following factors also raise risk:
- Being
female
- Being
an adolescent or young adult
- Having
a prior trauma
- Having
mental health or learning problems before childhood cancer
- Having
low levels of social support
- Having
parents with a history of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress
disorder
Should I Seek Help?
Talk to your doctor if you have emotional distress that
lasts two or more weeks or that keeps you from doing key tasks at home, school,
or work. A referral to a mental health professional may be in order, but your
doctor most likely will give you a thorough check-up first. That’s because
these symptoms can also be caused by physical health problems.
Here are some specific signs that you might you need help
from a mental health professional:
- Changes
in appetite or weight
- Crying
easily or not being able to cry
- Constant
tiredness and low energy level
- Sleeping
a lot or not sleeping well
- Feeling
hopeless; thoughts of death, escape, suicide
- Increased
irritability
- Less
interest in activities that you used to like
- Unwanted
recall of painful aspects of cancer
- Feeling
very fearful, upset, or angry when thinking about cancer
- Physical
reactions (fast heart rate, shortness of breath, nausea) when thinking
about cancer
- Not
going to your health care visits
- Refusing
to talk about cancer
What Can I Do to Feel Better?
If you are depressed or anxious, talking with others about
your feelings is a first step in gaining control over them. Some survivors find
support by joining support groups, going to activities at their place of
worship, or calling on their sense of spirituality.
Clinical treatments for depression and anxiety help, too.
Options include one-on-one or group talk therapy, medication, or both. Your
doctor can help you access the support or treatment that you need.
There’s also help online. Many cancer groups have created
websites that include information and tools to help childhood cancer survivors
after treatment ends. Here are just a few:
- CureSearch
for Children’s Cancer (www.curesearch.org)
provides a comprehensive section called Coping with Cancer, designed to
help patients and families navigate the psychological and social aspects
of caring for a child with cancer.
- The
American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)
provides a web-based support network, other programs and services, and
stories of hope for cancer survivors.
- Patient
Centered Guides (www.patientcenters.com/survivors)
provides a list of follow-up clinics for childhood cancer survivors and
articles related to psychosocial aspects of survivorship.
What Should I Talk to My Doctor About?
Tell your doctor or childhood cancer specialist about any
emotional distress that you feel. Your doctor can help you find the resources
that you need to cope with the stresses of being a survivor.