Carcinophobia (extreme fear of cancer): symptoms, causes and treatment
Although, at present, the first cause of death in adults is the problems related to the heart, the fear of developing any type of cancer is much more widespread throughout the entire population.
One of the main reasons we can find it in the carcinogenic diseases are inevitably associated with a very high image of suffering and anguish. This fact has favored the development of a variety of specific phobia known as: carcinophobia .
- Related article: "Types of phobias: exploring the disorders of fear"
What is carcinophobia?
As we have always specified in the articles that describe some type of specific phobia, a normative or habitual fear does not have the same clinical significance as a phobic fear, and there are numerous and substantial differences between the two.
In the specific case of carcinophobia, this forms part of anxiety disorders and involves experimenting an excessive, irrational and uncontrollable fear to suffer or develop some type of cancer .
This fear of developing a carcinogenic disease it can be considered as a specific type of hypochondria , in which the only conditions that the person fears are those that are characterized by the appearance of tumors or carcinomas.
Comparison with other fears
It is necessary to specify that the experimentation of sensations of fear and fear before the possibility of developing are completely natural. As we commented, the fact that this is a disease with a development and course so traumatic and painful (both physically and psychologically), makes each and every one of the cases are very striking, creating a sense of omnipresence.
While it is true that cancer cases have increased dramatically in recent years and that most people have experienced a close case, carcinophobia is an exaggerated reaction to this fact, since converts a normal fear is an inordinate one , with the consequent effects on daily life that this causes.
The phobic fear that characterizes carcinophobia, and all specific anxiety disorders, is distinguished by being absolutely disproportionate and exaggerated, as well as irrational and permanent over time.
In addition, in cases of carcino-phobia, the person tends to associate any symptom or discomfort experienced to the appearance of some type of cancer , thus fostering a state of continuous anxiety and carrying out information seeking behaviors to reinforce their suspicions.
Finally, in comparison with other types of phobia in which the anxiety reaction only appears in the presence of a stimulus or dreaded situation, in carcinophobia it is a constant fear since the fear is born simply from the expectations of the person, feeding a fear that intensifies even more in the presence of any stimulus related to cancer.
What symptoms does it present?
The clinical picture of carcinophobia is similar to that of the rest of specific phobias and its symptoms are related to the experimentation of serious states of anxiety. This anxious symptomatology is classified into three groups of symptoms: physical, cognitive and behavioral.
1. Physical symptomatology
Specific anxiety disorders are characterized by causing an increase in the activity of the central nervous system in the person who experiences it. This increase generates a large number of changes and alterations at a physiological and organic level. These symptoms include:
- Increase in the cardiac rate
- Increased respiratory flow .
- Palpitations
- Feeling short of breath or suffocation.
- Muscle tension .
- Increased sweating
- Headaches .
- Gastric alterations.
- Vertigo or feeling dizzy.
- Nausea and / or vomiting
- Fainting .
2. Cognitive symptoms
Like the rest of the phobias, within the symptomatology of the carcinophobia there are a series of beliefs or Distorted thoughts about the possibilities of suffering or developing any type of cancer .
These irrational beliefs enhance the development of this phobia and are distinguished because the person makes a series of illogical associations about the causes, risk factors or symptoms of cancer.
3. Behavioral symptoms
The third group of symptoms are behavioral symptoms, which refer to all the behaviors that the person carries out to avoid (avoidant behaviors) or flee (escape behaviors) from possible situations or agents that may be potentially carcinogenic.
For example, people with carcinophobia tend to avoid smoking spaces or polluting places in which there may be environmental toxic agents likely to cause cancer.
In the same way, these people conduct constant research with the aim of determining which foods or products can be carcinogenic, as well as continually going to the doctor or requesting reviews and continuous medical check-ups.
Is there a treatment?
In those cases in which the worry or fear of developing cancer cause great anguish in the person or interfere in the progress of their day to day, it is highly recommended to go in search of psychological help.
Once the diagnosis is made, the psychological intervention can be given. In the case of phobias, the cognitive-behavioral treatment has turned out to be the most effective system at the time of decreasing and remitting the symptoms of the phobia.
Because the central symptomatology of carcinophobia is related to cognitive aspects. It is advisable to initiate the treatment by means of a cognitive restructuring, thanks to which to banish irrational beliefs and ideas and relativize the fear of cancer.
In addition, this intervention can be accompanied by systematic desensitization techniques. This technique, accompanied by a training in relaxation techniques, gets the person to face mentally those situations that generate fear and anxiety.
These are just some of the treatments or interventions that a person with carcino- phobia can undergo. Further, It is also advisable to get information from a professional in oncology to avoid myths and false beliefs about cancer.
