Coping With Complex Emotions During the Cancer Journey
- Managing worry during thyroid cancer treatment can feel like an uphill climb. You may wrestle with uncertainty about side effects, fear of recurrence, or how the disease could disrupt key life stages.
- It’s important to realize that worry and anxiety during the cancer journey are very common — and there are many resources available to you.
- While some people facing cancer seek care from mental healthcare professionals, and may benefit from things like cognitive therapy or medication, others find solace in support groups, opening up to friends and family, or even scheduling time to worry (carving out a specific time to think over these feelings may help.)
- If worry and anxiety start to become an issue, speak to your medical team about your feelings and consider asking about referrals to social workers, counseling, or mental health specialists.
In the midst of planning your treatment path, whether it involves surgery, radioactive iodine, or external beam radiation, it’s common to experience significant worry and uncertainty, but there are many ways to go about managing these feelings — like reaching out for support, experimenting with stress reduction techniques, or even scheduling time to worry.
Read MoreCommon Concerns During Treatment
“We try to let people know that worry is natural … peers like you also are worried about their cancer,” Dr. Haymart explains, noting that the approach to managing these worries really depends on the patient and their individual needs.
Some common worries for those facing thyroid cancer include the following.
Body Image and Scarring
Many younger patients undergo surgery before or along with radiation. This can leave a noticeable scar on the neck. It’s not unusual to feel self-conscious about this scar, especially if you worry people will instantly know you have (or had) cancer. For others, scars fade quickly and cause little distress — but the emotional impact can be significant if you find it’s a daily reminder of your diagnosis.
Dry Mouth and Taste Changes
For those undergoing external beam radiation around the head or neck, dryness or reduced salivary flow can occur, making swallowing and tasting foods less pleasant. Such changes can raise worry about nutrition and social situations — like going out for meals with family and friends.
Voice Changes
If surgery or radiation irritates the nerves controlling the voice, some patients experience temporary or permanent hoarseness. If your job requires public speaking or if you love singing, such shifts may trigger deeper anxiety about personal identity and competence.
Fertility and Family Planning
Radioactive iodine can mean delaying pregnancy attempts for 6 to 12 months, which can be tough to accept if you planned to have a child sooner. Meanwhile, external beam radiation to areas beyond the thyroid is rare but can bring its own fertility concerns if it ever targets reproductive organs. Thankfully, direct gonadal (ovary/testicle) exposure is usually uncommon in standard thyroid radiation, but the waiting periods and medication changes can cause significant worry.
Practical Ways to Handle Worry
1. Recognize That It’s Normal: Many people living with thyroid cancer — whether early-stage or advanced — report consistent concern about disease progression. This is common and doesn’t mean you’re overreacting. You are facing a stressful event, and some degree of worry is a perfectly natural response.
“A substantial number of patients will worry, even patients who are disease free. Classically, people expected that individuals with advanced disease would worry, but even disease-free patients can have worry and it makes sense. They got this cancer label, this was a very eventful time in their life. And so that worry is common,” Dr. Haymart explains.
2. “Schedule” Worry Time: Some clinicians suggest an approach called scheduled worry, where you carve out 15 minutes each day (e.g., 9:00 a.m.) to let yourself think about your fears. Write them down, vent in a journal, or talk aloud if you can. Then, once that time is up, mentally remind yourself, “I can think about this again at tomorrow’s worry time.” It might not completely stop intrusive thoughts, but it can gradually reduce how often worry hijacks your mind at random times.
3. Experiment with Stress-Reduction Techniques
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so try different approaches:
- Exercise: Regular walks, yoga, or other light activities can calm your mind and improve sleep.
- Mindfulness or Meditation: Short guided meditations or breathing exercises can help center you.
- Creative Outlets: Journaling, painting, or crafting can channel anxious energy into something positive.
- Talking to Loved Ones: Even a 10-minute call with a supportive friend can ease worry for the rest of the day.
4. Keep Track of What Helps: Certain activities or routines might calm you more effectively than others. You could keep a small notebook or use a notes app on your phone to record which methods reduce your anxiety. Over time, you’ll discover specific patterns — like “listening to music before bed” or “going for a gentle walk in the morning” — that make a big difference.
5. Reach Out If Worry Becomes Overwhelming: If you notice that your anxiety is interfering with daily life — impacting sleep, mood, or relationships — consider seeking further help. Mental health professionals (such as therapists or counselors) can guide you through coping strategies or offer more specialized interventions if you develop depression or severe anxiety.
Seeking Emotional and Psychological Support
There are an array of resources that people living with cancer can turn to when struggling with worry or anxiety surrounding their disease (or in general). Different approaches work for different people.
Consider the following:
- Social Workers and Psychologists: Major cancer centers often have in-house social workers or psychologists who specialize in supporting patients with serious illnesses. Don’t hesitate to ask your oncologist or endocrinologist for a referral.
- Online or In-Person Support Groups: Connecting with others who’ve had or are undergoing similar treatments (including radiation therapy) can be comforting. You might learn practical tips about coping with side effects or hear success stories that remind you advanced thyroid cancer isn’t always doom and gloom. Keep in mind that everyone’s journey is different, so what works for someone else may not be exactly right for you — but sharing experiences can still reduce isolation.
- Family and Friends: Even people who aren’t going through cancer can offer understanding and encouragement. Let loved ones know what you need — perhaps help with rides to appointments, someone to babysit children, or just a listening ear. Let them know it’s okay that they might not have all the answers; simply being there matters.
Maintaining Quality of Life
For advanced thyroid cancer, your medical team may weigh the benefits of treatments (like external beam radiation, targeted therapies, or additional surgeries) against their side effects. It’s natural to feel torn between wanting to fight the cancer aggressively and wanting to keep living your life with minimal disruptions. Openly discuss your preferences with your care providers. A truly patient-centered approach should respect both your physical health and your emotional well-being.
If you’re worried about taking time off from work or losing income, check if your employer offers flexible scheduling, work-from-home options, or short-term disability. Cancer organizations may also provide guidance on financial resources.
You may also be dealing with physical changes that make going about your life as you normally would more challenging.
Skin irritation from radiation, dryness of the mouth, or changes in taste could limit your desire to socialize. Consider short gatherings or alternative ways to bond (like watching a movie at home). Keep your network close, even if the way you spend time with them changes.
Looking Ahead With Hope
As research continues, new targeted therapies and refined radiation approaches give people with advanced thyroid cancer more options than ever. For some, simply knowing these treatments exist can lessen the burden of worry. Even when the cancer can’t be completely cured, it can often be managed for many years, allowing you to live a meaningful, active life.
Thyroid cancer — like all cancers — can be an unplanned fork in the road. While it’s natural to want an exact timeline or guarantee of success, those rarely exist in medicine. Trying to live in the present, seeking daily joys, and connecting with supportive communities can help transform what seems like an endless waiting game into a life journey that still holds moments of beauty and growth.
If fear and worry start to overshadow your days, remember that many resources exist to guide you. Let your physician or nurse know how you’re feeling. Ask about referrals to social workers, counseling, or mental health specialists. Consider online forums where you can see real stories of people who have navigated radiation, overcame side effects, and found a way to thrive.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Should I seek professional help for the worry/anxiety I am feeling?
- Can you refer me to a trusted mental health professional?
- At what point should I seek medication for worry/anxiety?
- Do you know of any patient support groups I should consider?
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