Dealing with Symptoms - Anxiety

Fatigue | Eating Problems | Nausea | Hair Loss | Sore Mouth and Throat | Dry Mouth | Sleep Disturbances | Bowel Problems | Anxiety | Depression | Breathing Difficulties

Anxiety is a natural part of everyone’s life, but after a cancer diagnosis, anxiety is likely to increase and perhaps even spiral out of control.  Because you are facing the unknown, nervousness is bound to become a major part of your life.  Learning to take hold of your anxiety and not letting it overwhelm you is the key.

Anxiety shows itself in a variety of ways.  Common symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Lump in the throat
• Diarrhea
• Chest pain
• Tingling or numbness

When you’re presented with your mesothelioma diagnosis, you’ll no doubt have lots of questions that will cause anxiety.  What will happen to me?  What will happen to my family?  Will this be painful?  How long will I live?  All of those unanswered questions will cause extra stress, so it’s best to learn as much as you can about your disease and its treatment.  Knowing what to expect can ease your burden a bit.

If you’re still experiencing anxiety or panic attacks after you’ve talked with your cancer specialist, it may be advisable to schedule a few sessions with a psychologist.  They can help you learn some relaxation exercises to ease your tension and anxiety or simply help by talking with you about your cancer diagnosis.