Countless survivors have told us here at SurvivorNet that a cancer diagnosis is hard on the whole family. It creates a lot of worry, anxiety, and questions — will my loved one survive? How can I help? How will we pay for it? Am I at risk for cancer too?
Singer Rita Ora’s mother, Vera Ora, recently appeared on a UK talk show to discuss how the experience was for her and her family. Vera was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was just 39 years old. “The journey I had was really tough. At a young age treatment tends to be more rigorous and prolonged. When it’s diagnosed young, the treatment gets to be more intense, I had chemo, radiotherapy and a mastectomy,” Vera told the hosts of Loose Women.
Read MoreWhat Do I Do About My Anxiety?
For people experiencing anxiety over a loved one’s cancer diagnosis, there are a handful of options. Rita has been vocal publicly about how she sees a therapist. This can be really helpful for both people who are facing cancer themselves, and their families. A certain degree of acceptance is a big part of the healing process, and a therapist can help with that. For those who would feel uncomfortable sitting on-on-one with a therapist, support groups may be a better option. Many cancer centers have social workers on staff who can direct people facing cancer and their families to the appropriate support system. They can also help you determine which support system is right for you, if you’re unsure.What If I’m Worried About Hereditary Risk?
If you’re worried about a familial risk of cancer, talk to your doctor about it. In Rita’s case, genetic testing may be the route to take because her mother was diagnosed at such a young age. Only about 10% of breast cancers are hereditary, still, doctors recommend that if you have a close relative who got cancer early — like in their 30s or 40s — genetic testing is a good way to keep an eye on your health. Plus, it can let you know the proper times/frequency for screening, and reduce anxiety about getting cancer overall.
“If you have a family history of cancers, you should definitely discuss with a genetic counselor or your physician whether or not you should have genetic testing,” Dr. Beth Karlan, a gynecologic oncologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, told SurvivorNet. “Genetic testing can provide you, and empower you with such important information … and direct you to actions and screening tests that can save your life by finding cancers even earlier.”
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