Do you have cancerphobia? How to get over that...

Go ahead, say the word out loud: Cancer. 

While it may seem like common sense that the word alone won’t increase your risk, a lot of people are actually afraid to say it. Cancerphobia is real – and it’s dangerous. Some people who suffer from an extreme fear of getting cancer may skip or avoid life-saving regular checks. Other people with cancerphobia may go overboard with checks and become preoccupied with every lump, spot or sensation they feel. Anxiety expert Dr. Michael J. Telch has this advice for cancerphobics: 

• Try to stop acting as if you already had cancer. Resist surfing the net for information and avoid seeking constant reassurance that all is well.

• Put a check on checking. Constant checking sends a message to the brain that something must be wrong. There are plenty of guidelines out there to help you manage regular checks - stick to those. 

• Counteract illogical thoughts. Rather than “Oh no, that spot must be melanoma,” try “It’s a normal age spot like everyone gets, I’ll keep an eye on it.” 

Dr. Telch reminds us that there’s no way to guarantee that you won’t ever get cancer. However, the idea is to gain a realistic sense of your risk and to practice appropriate ways of protecting yourself with a healthy diet and lifestyle and recommended cancer screenings.