Anyone else have cancer FOMO ? ( fear of missing out)

I was terrified when first diagnosed a year ago. Couldn't eat or sleep. Knowing conventional treatments alone would likely not be a cure, I felt the need to help myself. I researched supplements day and night, cross referencing them with people's experiences on websites such as this. It eased the anxiety because I wasn't just waiting, I was helping the doctors to help me; giving myself the best chance possible.

Your story is almost exactly the same as mine. I often feel like I’m living in limbo - and moving to 6 month surveillance was very difficult. Post treatment side effects are constant reminders and scanxiety has never gone away. Meditation and support groups are not my thing, but 1:1 conversations with social workers have been helpful. I try to eat healthy and I go to the gym once a week, but I also don’t deny myself foods that bring joy or lazy mornings when needed. With an aggressive cancer diagnosis, I wonder how much control one really has over its cell growth. After a good (negative) scan I feel free for a while, planning time with family and friends (my joy) until the cycle begins again. Others share that daily supplements and exercise are beneficial. Maybe other survivors will make suggestions that resonate with you. I find that the psychological effects of cancer in the post treatment stage are as ignored by the oncological community as the long term side effects. “Live your life” is easier said than done and we have to figure it out in our own. This Mayo community has been helpful in its support and in not feeling so alone as a survivor who struggles.

@ffr you aren’t alone…cancer survivorship is not always so easy, with recurrence always lurking in the shadows…. My team still keeps the 3month blood tests and short review with them, as i now go into the 6month schedule of imaging, which i like…enough already ! But it really is true that being occupied with people and activities we enjoy helps a lot…find your joy—it’s great medicine, and fun ! Wishing you all the best !

@aardvark2118 The present psychological effects of cancer that occurred in 2022 (for me it was 2019, and then recurrence in 2021) keep on for many of us. I agree with you that the ongoing surveillance is challenging. I never would have thought that the recommendation to come for appointments less often might scare me more than coming more often. In a way, the most comfortable I felt psychologically was when I was in active treatment (radiation therapy) because I had regular scans and met with the doctors weekly.

My scans and physical exams since 2021 have all been NED (no evidence of disease). So, at my last surveillance my NP told me that after December, 2026 this could be my last 6 month exam and then I can return in one year. Ach! But, she also offered that if I wanted to return more often - at 6 months - this is available to me. She can make that happen. I'm pretty sure I will choose to come back at that 6 month mark.

For the past year or so my worries about another cancer recurrence or new cancer have slowly faded. I'm not putting off travel or other things I enjoy because cancer may return and I'll need to be in treatment. I saved my money for retirement and I'm comfortable financially. My financial advisor keeps asking me what I'd like to do, where would I like to go? And so I dip my toe in the water, so to speak. When I do travel I fly first class. The sticker price of first class is a huge shock but then I tell myself, how much longer can I do this? I spend time and money on wellness which includes the gym, strength training with personal trainers, and regular massage. I still look for bargains in groceries but I also spend time looking for and preparing healthy food.

I avoid people who I find are overly negative (in my opinion) and live to complain, vent, are are overly controlling. Unfortunately, this now includes one family member but I need to do this for my own health. I prioritize my relationships with family and talk with close friends on a regular basis. In this, I agree with @nycmusic who wrote that when she spends time with people and activities she enjoys it helps.

@naturegirl5 I totally get avoiding the negative ! We need all our energies to heal and preserve health ! The negative people will just have to take their problems elsewhere. I don’t want to waste a drop of precious energy on them…

it is a hard path to walk. i talked to my doctor about it and he said - i should leave the worry of reoccurrence with him. we have excellent diagnostic tools and treatment options to help catch a reoccurrence early.

from that conversation, i gave up my worry. i put it all in the hands of God and the medical staff.

i saw that my worry wasn't helping me prevent a reoccurrence and it did nothing to improve my daily life. my worry took away my joy in the present.

i spend my days doing things i love and i am surrounded by my husband and my numerous pets. i swim every day with my dog - i throw the ball in the pool and we race to get it, it's a highlight of my day and we swim about 25 laps.

if you like dogs and can have one were you live i highly recommend getting one. i have mine certified as a service dog and take her almost everywhere with me. she helps so much with anxiety and depression. she licks away tears and drops toys in my lap to cheer me up.

@klue love your post ! Thank you…and happy 4th !