Anxiety
It is normal to feel anxious about your cancer. Anxiety can cause problems such as a loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, breathing difficulties, and a fast heart rate. These feelings usually subside over time, but they can last and cause problems with daily living.
For some people, the experience of cancer can trigger an anxiety disorder where the feeling of anxiety is severe, lasts a long time and affects the quality of life. Anxiety disorders include:
- General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Severe anxiety lasting at least six months or longer, causing fatigue, tension, irritability, difficulty sleeping, a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating and dizziness.
- Panic Attacks Periods of intense fear or anxiety when there is no danger. A panic attack may cause a person to feel chest pains, breathing difficulties, a racing heartbeat, dizzy, sweaty and faint. They can last for several minutes or more.
- Post Traumatic Distress Disorder (PTSD) Anxiety that affects daily living, including reliving cancer-related events in flashbacks or nightmares. It can result in an avoidance of people and places connected to cancer, a loss of interest in daily activities and feeling lonely.
If you are experiencing any of these prolonged symptoms, it is recommended you speak to your GP or a member of your clinical team. You can also find more information by visiting www.anxietyuk.org.uk.
