How To Deal With The Fear Of Recurrence

Learn about your cancer and what you can do if it does return.

• Knowledge can give you a greater sense of control. 
• Some studies even suggest that people who are well informed about their illness and treatment are more likely to follow their treatment plans and recover from cancer more quickly than those who are not.

Keep up-to-date about improvements in treatment.

• Get on the e-mail lists from the non-profit organizations that focus on your health condition. If you don't have access to the internet, ask a family member or friend to receive the e-mails for you and to keep you posted.
• Each time you see your doctor, ask about new treatments and new studies about existing treatments. Ask about cutting edge treatments being studied in clinical trials that relate to your particular situation and look promising. To learn about clinical trials, see "To Learn More." 
• If you are not already a member, consider joining a support group of people with your condition. Support groups are an major source of information. A support group doesn't have to be in person. It can be online or on the telephone. For information about support groups, including how to find one that works for you, click here.

NOTE: There can be a fine line between staying informed and being obsessed. If you think you are becoming obsessed, back off looking for information for a while. Consider setting an alert on your calendar, say for every three months, to check to see if there are updates.

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