help with cancer-related anxiety

I am in remission and still on a 5 yr cancer treatment, 3 more years left. I have PTSD, anxiety and brain fog.
Counseling can help but you already know the root cause. The goal is to keep your mind present, centered so you are not thinking of the future.

Do you have a dog?

A friend suggested to me to visit a Children’s Hospital and read to kids with cancer.

I'm glad you found Connect--and I think you can get some good suggestions here. Even though the diagnosis was some time ago, you might still be able to get into a group for people with breast cancer. Your oncologist/cancer center should know of the available ones. Also, I have a friend who is a social worker who told me that each state's social work organization maintains a list of counselors who will do volunteer therapy for free. This might be worth looking into. Counseling from a chaplain or clergy member should be free, and here again a cancer center should be able to refer to a non-denominational one. It isn't for everyone, but can be a support that is more generally spiritual than specific.
What activities or approaches have you found the most useful to you over the course of life--not just for cancer? Do you like to read, journal, walk, meditate or anything else? I've found all those activities help with anxiety in general. Also, if you like your PCP she or he can be a good resource and hopefully listen and advise. Keep in touch with us as you explore if you feel like it!

I’m definitely on the same page with you when it comes to cancer anxiety, it’s been my biggest challenge since I was diagnosed in 2020 with lung cancer, I know that you mentioned breast cancer however I don’t think that it matters when dealing with PTSD. I too had a rough time dealing with my fear and it took its toll on me mentally and physically, there was also other issues that came along with family, friends and the medical community. I suppose the best thing to do is focus on other things to occupy your mind, keeping busy is always helpful, pretty much everything that takes your mind off the fears. I did find coming here to the Mayo connection was very beneficial for me, talking with people who relate to you and for me, reaching out to those who need help. I really don’t feel so alone anymore and that’s good medicine for sure, also my faith in God has gotten stronger and it helped me get through the fear. I hope that you will find peace in time and always remember that you’re not alone in your journey to survive.

@malebreastcancer47 Hello! Yes, I do have a dog ... 2, in fact, plus 2 cats. Interesting that you mentioned keeping my mind present --- I've started practicing mindfulness as well as meditation and they seem to be helping. Thank you for taking the time to reply!

@mir123 Thank you so much your advice. Checking with a social worker does seem like a good option.
I've lived with anxiety and depression for most of my life and I have developed some coping strategies (exercise and diet are a bit priority for me), but the anxiety seems to be more ramped up than usual. The cancer also kicked my body into menopause and I've heard that a lot of women struggle with anxiety during this time. Most recently, I have been meditating and am also considering trying yoga. I have done Pilates before but not yoga. But I do try to ride my bike through the park every day after work, then take my dog for a walk later in the evening.

@frouke Thank you so much. I'm happy that you found some things that work for you. It really does help to be able to talk to people who know what you are going through. I was seeing a counselor a few years ago, but I couldn't afford to keep seeing her long-term. I wish counseling wasn't so expensive!

Listen to and meditate with Dr. Bernie Siegel and Louise Hay.

I can relate a few years back I was in the same place. I have a mental health specialist and I talk twice a month. I also participate in a zoom call twice a month with peers with Metastatic Breast Cancer. We give each other tips and guidance on side effects, mental health, anxiety, new meds coming out to market. I also went to a rehab doctor that helped me deal with pain via referral to acupuncture, oncology massage, and physical therapy. Game changer for me. I also downloaded an app titled Insight Timer that helps with breathing, meditation, and sleeping. One thing I learned to do is live my life and accept the changes in my life and live it the best I can. Regardless how we feel we are going to have up and down days. I consider myself lucky because although I am worse off than 5 years ago as the cancer has spread to other organs. I am open to change and new treatment and mixing western and eastern medicine together. Exercise is also important is just different. It means walking, chair yoga, and strength training medically supervised. Unfortunately I am not able to place links but you can do your search and talk to your social worker at your oncology center to give you links and guidance that is how I got my information. Wishing you the best.

I was diagnosed IDC in 2023. Initial recommendations were surgery and radiation but further testing meant chemo as well. So been through lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Currently on my third ai medication. When I went in for the surgery pre-op, the nurse navigator talked to me and went over the high possibility of PTSD in cancer patients and recommended joining one of their groups. I luckily ended up low stage, no mets. Went to a couple of the meetings but because I wasn’t dealing with high stage, multiple meds like so many of them, I was pretty much asked why I was there - I should have no problems dealing with it. So stopped going. Twice my PCP has recommended antidepressants because I “have symptoms” but those were actually side effects of the meds. I don’t want to take anything I don’t HAVE to take (with even more side effects) and my brain says I need to evaluate why I may be depressed and fix that instead of covering it up with another pill. Anyway, still dealing with abnormal tumor markers that concern oncologist so almost annual brain and pet scans. Plus all the side effects still from the chemo and radiation that they just don’t seem to recognize still exist (neuropathy, mouth ulcers, 5 crowns, periodontal disease, fatigue, weight gain, skin changes etc). So, do I have PTSD? Am I depressed? Probably, but I’m trying to deal with it.

One of the most helpful things I learned while in mental health treatment was that I could sit with my anxiety and it wouldn’t hurt me. When I feel extremely anxious I learned to just accept the feelings without labeling them good or bad, harmful or helpful. They just are. And they are not me. They are transitory. Allowing the feelings to pass helps me.

I was once in a group session when another person had an anxiety attack. The therapist helped that person with box breathing and grounding. The grounding was as simple as helping the person be aware of the things they could touch and see in the moment. It taught me how to manage my own anxiety. There are books on Complex PTSD available through Amazon and probably through your local library. My therapist recommended books that helped me. There are also workbooks available.

I went through mental health treatment about eight years before my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I used box breathing to get through a lot of difficult procedures. It seems overly simple but it is very effective.

I am a stoic. I have a book — THE DAILY STOIC — that helped me a lot. But it isn’t for everyone. I recommend looking for books and information online that works for you.

Medical PTSD is manageable. But there are some times that are harder to manage than others. When I have non-cancer related surgeries and doctor visits it can be triggering. I have learned that if I am aware that upcoming treatments may be more difficult then knowing that I may need to practice breathing and accepting or talking to a friend or family member about it helps a lot.