We’ve already talked about how our thoughts impact our overall health and well-being. Next, we need to address the very valid concern that can nag our minds. For a cancer survivor, does the thought of reoccurrence ever subside? To answer this question, at least in part, it’s important to understand what cancer is as well as how and why it occurs.

First of all, remission is a medical term that states the signs and symptoms of a disease have disappeared. Reoccurrence, on the other hand, refers to the primary cancer resurfacing at some point in the future. Primary cancers are separate from secondary cancers, which can occur due to the treatment of the first. 

Most commonly a reoccurrence happens within two to five years of the initial diagnosis or treatment. The chance of reoccurrence depends on a plethora of factors, including the type and stage of cancer you had and your lifestyle. For example, brain cancer has a near 100 percent recurrence rate, rectal cancer has a 20-50 percent reoccurrence rate, while breast cancer reoccurs in 7-13 percent of cases. It’s easy to see, based on these statistics, why reoccurrence could be a nagging thought. 

Right after my diagnosis I was hyper vigilant about my diet. I gave up carbs, sugar, and dairy. I was very aware of everything I put in my mouth. Even after my first, then my second clear scan,  I constantly ask myself if what I’m eating is good for me. Will it feed life or illness? 

Each scan is a line in the sand of time—before and after the scan—and what might be found. Believe me! I understand how it can become a constant stressor and create worry. 

Candidly, I don’t know if the thought of reoccurrence ever truly goes away, though I assume it will lessen over time. It’s also okay not to have all the answers. What I can say for certain is that our thoughts do have an impact. What’s more, we have the power at each moment to manage our thoughts, rather than getting stuck in them. Sitting with our thoughts, evaluating them, and redirecting them can absolutely reframe how we think about our lives and our circumstances. And reframing can make a huge difference in outcomes. 

To prevent reoccurrence of cancer, three of the most important things we can do to regulate the level of stress our body encounters are: 1) take hold of our thoughts, 2) take the initiative to manage our diet and the products we use, and 3) exercise.