Carcinophobia (extreme fear of cancer): symptoms, causes and treatment

The idea of developing Cancer can become an obsession that damages the quality of life.

Although the leading cause of death in adults today is heart-related problems, the fear of developing any type of cancer is much more widespread throughout the population.

One of the main reasons for this can be found in the fact that cancer diseases are inevitably associated with an image of suffering and anguish that is extremely high. This fact has led to the development of a a variety of specific phobia known as: carcinophobia..

What is carcinophobia?

As we have always specified in articles describing specific phobias, 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 is part of the anxiety disorders and consists of experiencing an excessive, irrational, irrational fear of the carcinogen. an excessive, irrational and uncontrollable fear of suffering or developing some type of cancer..

This fear of developing a cancerous disease can be considered as a type of hypophobia. can be considered as a type of specific hypochondriasis, in which the only conditions that can be considered as cancerous are the followingin which the only conditions that the person fears are those characterized by the appearance of tumors or carcinomas.

Comparison with other fears

It is necessary to specify that experiencing feelings of dread and fear at the possibility of developing are completely natural. As we mentioned, the fact that this is a disease with such a traumatic and painful development and course (both physically and psychologically), makes each and every case very striking, creating a feeling of omnipresence.

While it is true that cancer cases have increased drastically in recent years and that most people have experienced a case close to them, carcinophobia is an exaggerated reaction to this fact, since it turns a normal fear into an inordinate one. it turns a normal fear into a disproportionate onewith 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.

Moreover, in cases of carcinophobia, the person tends to associate any symptom or discomfort experienced with the appearance of some type of cancer, thus fostering a continuous state of anxiety and carrying out information-seeking behaviors to reinforce their suspicions.This fosters a state of continuous anxiety and leads to information-seeking behaviors in order to reinforce their suspicions.

Finally, in comparison with other types of phobia in which the anxiety reaction only appears in the presence of a feared stimulus or situation, in carcinophobia it is a constant fear since the fear is born simply from the person's expectations, feeding a fear that intensifies even more in the presence of any stimulus related to cancer.

What are the symptoms?

The clinical picture of carcinophobia is similar to that of other specific phobias and its symptoms are related to the experience of severe anxiety states. This anxious symptomatology is classified into three groups of symptoms: physical, cognitive and behavioral.

1. Physical symptomatology

Specific anxiety disorders are characterized by 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 the physiological and organic level. These symptoms include:

• Increased heart rate.
• Increased respiratory flow..
• Palpitations.
• Sensation of shortness of breath or asphyxia.
• Muscle tension..
• increased sweating
• Headaches.
• Gastric alterations.
• Dizziness or sensation of dizziness.
• Nausea and/or vomiting.
• Fainting.

2. Cognitive Symptomatology

As with the rest of phobias, within the symptomatology of 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 the behavioral symptoms, which refer to all the behaviors that the person carries out to avoid (avoidance behaviors) or flee (escape behaviors) from possible situations or agents that may be potentially carcinogenic.

For example, people with carcinophobia tend to avoid smoking areas. tend to avoid smoking areas or polluting places where toxic agents may be present. where there may be environmental toxic agents likely to cause cancer.

In the same way, these people carry out constant research to determine which foods or products may be carcinogenic, as well as going to the doctor or requesting continuous medical check-ups and check-ups.

Is there a treatment?

In those cases in which the worry or fear of developing cancer causes great anguish in the person or interferes with the progress of daily life, it is highly recommended to seek psychological help.

Once the diagnosis has been made, psychological intervention can begin. In the case of phobias cognitive-behavioral treatment has proven to be the most effective system in reducing and remitting in diminishing and remitting the symptoms of the phobia.

Because the central symptomatology of carcinophobia is related to cognitive aspects. It is advisable to initiate treatment by means of cognitive restructuring, thanks to which irrational beliefs and ideas can be banished and the fear of cancer can be relativized.

In addition, this intervention can be accompanied by systematic desensitization techniques. This technique, accompanied by training in relaxation techniques, gets the person to mentally confront those situations that generate fear and anxiety.

These are just some of the treatments or interventions that a person with carcinophobia can undergo. In addition, it is also advisable to it is also advisable to get information from a professional oncologist in order to avoid myths and falsehoods. in order to avoid myths and false beliefs about cancer.