Coping with anxiety

Understading anxiety

Anxiety can be a physical feeling such as your heart racing, being short of breath, shaky or hot and sweaty. Your mind may be full of anxious thoughts and worries that can be hard to ignore. 

Most people feel anxious at times. It is common to experience some anxiety if you are coping with stressful events and changes, especially if these have a big impact on your life.

Anxiety with ovarian cancer

Being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, going through surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments are life changing experiences. 

You will probably have been anxious during this time. You may have found it hard to cope with the wait for test results, or the prospect of major surgery, changes to your body or the loss of your fertility. Your view of the future and sense of security may be different now. 

There is no right or wrong way to feel about what has happened to you. People deal with having cancer in their own ways and you may feel different from day to day. However, it can be hard to get the emotional help you need.

“It seems obvious that being diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for a serious physical illness is going to have an impact on someone’s mental wellbeing but too often they are treated separately, without much attention given to the person as a whole,” says Geoff Heyes of the mental health charity Mind. 

It is normal and understandable if you respond to your experiences with feelings of anxiety. This becomes a problem if your anxiety is excessive and causes you distress that stops you enjoying your life or doing your usual day-to-day activities.

Finishing your treatment

When you have finished your initial treatment your family and friends may assume that this is the end of your cancer experience and expect you to get back to normal. 

Meanwhile you may be finding it very difficult to carry on as you were before because you have been through such a distressing time. You may still be recovering and trying to come to terms with changes to your body, your day-to-day life and uncertainty about the future.

You may really miss the care you received in hospital, the relationships with the clinical staff and the security and confidence that gave you. You may look well so people think you have recovered and expect you to do more than you are able to. 

When you have finished your treatment or if you move to maintenance treatment you will probably be on a schedule of regular check-ups which can be stressful and anxiety provoking. Some people describe scanxiety and have sleepless nights before appointments.

You can share these feelings with the clinic staff. Check with them in case any treatment you are using has a side effect that causes or worsens anxiety. 

All these issues mean that finishing hospital treatment and being back at home can be an anxious time. Your family may be anxious about you too.

Thinking about the future

You may be worried that your cancer will come back. All cancers have a risk of recurring. Because ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late at stage 3 or 4 there can be an increased risk of it coming back. Worry about having a recurrence is normal and expected. 

Try not to search for statistics on the internet. Bear in mind that statistical information usually refers to studies carried out on large groups several years ago, so it is hard to apply this data to an individual’s situation and make predictions about your future health.

Ways to manage your anxiety

While it is normal to feel anxious at times, if you worry that you are not coping this can make you more anxious leading to a tightening circle of feeling anxious about being anxious. But it can be possible to manage your anxiety.

Here are some suggestions that may help you:

• Breathing exercises can calm you. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth counting to four as you breathe in, then pausing and count to six as you breathe out. Keep your shoulders down and put your hand on your stomach, feeling it rise as you breathe in and fall as you breathe out.

• Step away from a stressful situation for just a few minutes. Taking time away from your usual routines and thoughts can help you feel calmer.

• Do some exercise that you enjoy, short walks, swimming or go to the gym.

• Go outside and get into some countryside, a park or a garden if you can.

• Eat regular meals to keep up your energy and to structure your day. Try to eat a balanced diet but include your favourite foods too.

• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants, alcohol which can be a depressant, non- prescribed drugs and smoking.

• Take up your old routines and activities when you can and plan something to look forward to.

• If you are not sleeping well try going to bed and getting up at the same times every day. If you really can’t sleep then get up for a while and try again later. Try to keep daytime naps to 20 minutes or less. Avoid watching TV or using your mobile phone late at night as this can make it harder to sleep.

• Try to think about one day at a time and perhaps set a small achievable task for that day so you gain some satisfaction and confidence.

• Talking to other people can relieve tension. Sharing and expressing your feelings and being listened to can make you feel better.

• Writing about your thoughts and feelings can be helpful. If you keep a journal you can track your own progress and see how your moods change.

Planning a stratey for anxious times

It can help to plan ahead and think of ways of managing experiences and events that cause anxiety. For instance, you could:

• Talk to your oncologist or specialist nurse about the signs of your cancer recurring so you know what to look out for. Ask them for advice on how to stay well so you know how best to help yourself. This can give you a sense of having more control of your health.

• Plan to take someone with you to scans and follow-up appointments if you can. Write down your questions so you feel organised and think of something pleasurable to do afterwards.

• If there are certain anniversaries that may cause anxiety think about what you might need at those times to manage your feelings and ask for help or for a loved one to keep you company.

• Be kind to yourself. Remind yourself of how far you have come. What would you say to encourage a friend in the same situation? Accept that negative thoughts and emotions will occur, but they can pass without taking over.

• Spend time with other people. Sharing how you feel can often help to relieve pressure. Perhaps join a support group or an online community.

Getting more support

Seek more help if you are finding it hard to enjoy your life and if your anxiety is hard to cope with and affecting you day-to-day. It is always acceptable to ask for more help. 

Remember that you are not alone, many people in your situation will have felt the same and remember that you deserve support. 

Some cancer hospitals/centres and cancer charities may provide counselling and other services for you and your loved ones. There may be local psychology services and cancer charities that offer talking therapies. You can also talk to your GP or your oncology team to find out if other help and support is available.

You can call specialist support lines such as the Ovacome support line on 0800 008 7054; talk to mental health organisations, join support groups- see the Ovacome booklet Living with ovarian cancer: Getting the support you need, see link below, and ask your family and friends for more help.

Sources of support

Ovacome support line 0800 008 7054 Monday to Friday 10am-5pm. Email support@ovacome.org.uk

Ovacome booklet Living with ovarian cancer: Getting the support you need

Ovacome ovarian cancer information booklet: Complementary therapies

Ovacome’s online community My Ovacome

Maggies centres are based at cancer centres and offer support 

Macmillan Cancer Support has a range of resources and materials

Mind mental health charity 

Headspace offers online meditation  

The Calm app  

Anxiety UK  

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 

You can search for therapists with a specialist interest in cancer in your local area.

Watch: 'Managing anxiety after treatment ends and coping with the fear of recurrance', a webinar with clinical psychologist, Dr Jo Ashcroft

Watch: 'Top tips for managing anxiety', a webinar with clinical psychologist, Dr Maria Hughes

Did you find this page helpful?

We welcome your feedback. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email r.grigg@ovacome.org.uk or call 0207 299 6653.