Carcinophobia – Beat Your Fear Of Cancer
Carcinophobia is a relatively rare phobia and it refers to the irrational and extreme fear of getting cancer. It is normal to have a degree of fear of any disease and, let’s face it, being diverse and incurable, everyone dreads getting any form of cancer. Those fears or concerns are natural and normal but those who have carcinophobia believe that they can contract cancer from anything. They think that the dreaded disease is contagious to such an extent that it starts affecting their normal life.
Not only that but they believe that every new pain, every swelling, every mark on the body is cancer. Sometimes the fear of cancer becomes so extreme that it leads to agoraphobia, the fear of being outside or the fear of getting trapped in a situation from which there is no escape.
People who have had cancer in the past or whose friends or relatives have been afflicted with cancer are generally those who develop the fear of this disease. The media also have their part to play in this phobia with constant news of the latest reports into possible causes of cancer. Often people suffering from this disorder would have noticed the negative reactions that others show and might unconsciously start to imitate them.
Carcinophobia needn’t hold you back in life though as you CAN cure this irrational fear of cancer – there are treatment programs that really do work.
#1 Self-Help Treatment Program
The Overcome Fear Of Cancer is a self hypnosis treatment program specifically for those who suffer from Carcinophobia. Follow it in your own time, it’s completely discrete and represents amazing value for money too.
Highly recommended – Find Out More >
Fear Of Cancer – Causes
The fear of cancer typically affects those of us who have had the disease or who have known people who have or did have cancer. When you think about it though – that’s actually most of us!
Cancer, in some form of another, is a common condition that affects a high proportion of the population. It’s one of the most feared ailments for the reason that it currently has no definitive cure. We regard it as a scary, unpredictable disease which is difficult to beat.
There’s also so many different forms – some which we can see or feel and others which go hidden under the skin.
We probably all know or know of someone who has suffered from cancer, someone who is suffering right now or even someone who has lost a battle with cancer. We read about it in the papers, we hear about it on the news, we know about the treatments and the side effects … it’s everywhere.
There’s no wonder then that so many of us have a fear of contracting cancer.
On another level it may be that a sufferer has been given the all-clear and is in remission in which case the fear is that of recurrence … is it fully cleared, has it spread, will it come back?
A general fear of cancer is therefore understandable but it’s when this fear develops and starts to take over our lives that we need to take action.
Symptoms of Carcinophobia
Carcinophobia symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways
Avoidance: the extreme anxiety associated with an extreme fear of cancer can result in the sufferer avoiding certain situations, materials or foods associated in some way with cancer … even remotely linked! This can include things like sunlight, air pollution, certain foods, particular types of plastics or chemicals.
Paranoia: every new lump, every new mole, every slight pain, each feeling of discomfort is a sign of cancer. This results in a snowball effect of worry and panic about everything associated with having the disease and even the fear of death. It’s almost as if the sufferer is assured that they are going to get cancer and they’re looking for it all the time.
No matter who the symptoms manifest themselves the results are often the same. An overwhelming anxiety relating to pain, suffering, treatments, side effects and death.
This may result in excessive personal hygiene, and avoidance to the point of not wanted to leave a “safe” environment or to mix with people. Such situational or material avoidance is one of the most common effects of this condition as are the side effects associated with most phobias including:
- extreme anxiety
- hyperventilation
- headaches
- heart palpitations
- trembling
- dry mouth
- numbness
- sweating
- panic attacks
Carcinophobia – Facts and Data
The term was first coined back in 1955 within an article by Dr. George Crile, Jr., in Life Magazine and entitled “Fear of Cancer and unnecessary operations“. HuffPost describe Carcinophobia as “the cancer that can’t be cured“.
Studies by BMC Cancer have shown, perhaps understandably, cancer to be most feared disease – especially amongst older generations. That said, there’s a big difference between a natural concern and the irrational condition that is Carcinophobia.
A certain degree of a fear of cancer is completely normal and a high percentage of people witness this. We’ve not found any specific research into exact numbers of general Carcinophobics but it’s estimated the fear to become chronic and affecting mental health and quality of life in somewhere between 30 and 70% of cases.
There are certain studies into those who suffer from a fear of a specific type of cancer and also into cancer sufferers in remission (perhaps understandably more common) who fear a recurrence of cancer.
When To Seek Help For A Fear Of Cancer
Gephyrophobia is no different to any other phobia in as much as it has an initial trigger from which it will gradually develop and the fear will become greater in intensity if left unchecked.
Treatment For The Fear Of Cancer – Therapy
Hypnotherapy:
Hypnotherapy is a proven effective treatment in many cases of Carcinophobia. In simple terms it works by “re-setting” the brains natural response to a fear of cancer to make it react to the fear in a more rational manner. We always suggest to consider hypnotherapy as a treatment: Find Out More >
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT):
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is probably THE most recognised treatment therapy for any phobia and there’s no reason why it won’t be affective in the case of Carcinophobia either. It’s a talking therapy that works by gradually changing the automatic response to the fear: Find Out More >
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP):
Neuro-linguistic programming or NLP works by “re-framing” and disassociating the fear of cancer to make the sufferer see it in a different, more positive and rational way – thus resulting in a more rational response. Find Out More >
The Fear Of Cancer Self Help Treatments
If you find yourself consumed by irrational thoughts of cancer then take a look at one of our recommended, self-help treatment programs that are all guaranteed, proven and effective.
BEAT YOUR FEAR OF CANCER
The Overcome Fear Of Cancer is a self hypnosis treatment program specifically for those who suffer from Carcinophobia. Follow it in your own time, it’s completely discrete and represents amazing value for money too.
Highly recommended – Find Out More >
Get your FREE Hypnosis Course today!
