Anxiety
High levels of anxiety or worry is very common when you are facing GIST. Anxiety can be classified in one of two ways, either acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute anxiety include:
- a rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- chest pain,
- shortness of breath or feeling of being suffocated
- severe sweating
- chills
- hot flashes
- dizziness,
- nausea,
- trembling,
- abdominal pain,
- feeling fearful,
- high blood pressure
- diarrhea
Symptoms of chronic anxiety include:
- insomnia
- muscle tension
- extreme fatigue
- inability to concentrate or make decisions
- being irritable,
- excessive worrying
- restlessness
There are many things that you can try to manage and reduce your anxiety level. Anxiety can be treated with or without using medications. Psychotherapy and social support have shown to be very effective in managing anxiety in cancer patients.
Going for massages or participating in other activities, such as mediation, yoga, art, imagery techniques, which you find relaxing should also help alleviate anxiety. You may wish to work with a psychiatrist or psychologist to receive individual, family, or group counseling to manage your anxiety. There are also many medications out there which can be prescribed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist to make you feel less anxious and more relaxed. Joining either an online or in person support group with others who are also battling cancer has been proven to be highly effective at managing anxiety.
To reduce and manage anxiety caused by surgery and procedures try the following strategies:
- If you have to have a procedure or surgery to remove a tumor, it may help to make a pre-operative appointment with your surgeon to ask any questions you may have regarding the surgery or procedure. You may also want to see the operating room in advance so that you know where you will be during the procedure
- Make sure to ask your surgeon what you can expect as a result of the surgery/procedure so that you can have an idea of what will follow.
Asking your oncologist and other physicians on your medical team what can be expected during treatment is also a good idea to reduce anxiety. If you have a general idea of what to expect, you may be less anxious about treatment and your condition. Don’t let your anxiety keep you down, talk to your physician today about managing your anxiety.
Helpful sites:
http://www.cancer.net/patient/Diagnosis+and+Treatment/Treating+Cancer/Managing+Side+Effects/Anxiety+-+ASCO+curriculum
http://chemocare.com/managing/anxiety_and_cancer.asp
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/anxiety/patient
Return to Gleevec Side Effects Page
