Thyroid Cancer and Your Emotions
It is important to understand that well-differentiated thyroid cancer often has an excellent prognosis. While your doctor or others may try to console you by telling you thyroid cancer is 'he good cancer' it is equally important to understand that many people still experience the same fears and emotional upsets as do those with more life-threatening forms of cancer. These feelings are normal:
- Fear, worry and uncertainty leading up to the cancer diagnosis, especially if you have to wait a long time for diagnosis and/or treatment.
- Feeling you are on an emotional rollercoaster
- Loss of security about your health often experienced as a form of grief.
- Unusual fears related to possible recurrence following your treatment. Many people imagine every ache and pain to be something more serious than it is. It takes time to regain your emotional equilibrium.
- Strained relationships. Sometimes children act out their emotional turmoil in negative ways. Occasionally a friendship is lost. Or, you may experience strains in your relationship with a partner, particularly if you have previously been the one to do the caring in the relationship, if you experience depression and/or mood swings, and/or if you have difficulty adjusting to thyroid hormone replacement medication.
All of these adjustments can be painful, and can cause sadness and stress in the short term. It is not uncommon to feel isolated by your diagnosis, afraid to burden family and friends. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Communicate your needs clearly with loved ones. Let them know what they can do to help. And, be patient - it takes time to heal, both physically and emotionally. Besides friends and family, support groups such as the Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc., and/or community or church counsellors are often happy to help. Professional psychologists and social workers are often available on-site at cancer treatment centres or accessible by referral.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website does not constitute medical advice. Visitors are encouraged to work closely with their doctors to make sure that their individual medical needs are met. The Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc. does not endorse any product, treatment, service or practitioner and is not responsible for the quality of the information or services offered by other organizations or websites.
© Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc.