Anxiety After Breast Cancer
How Anxiety Shows Up After Breast Cancer
Every October, the world turns pink. Stores are filled with ribbons, campaigns remind us to “fight like a warrior,” and commercials spotlight breast cancer awareness. While these messages raise visibility, they can also stir up complicated feelings.
For many survivors—including myself—October isn’t just about awareness. It can bring back fear, anxiety, and it sometimes doesn’t always feel triumphant.
The Surprising Fear after “graduating”
When I first “graduated” from seeing my oncologist every three weeks to every six months, I thought I would feel relieved. Instead, I was terrified. I told my doctor, “This is really scary—I’ve been seeing you every three weeks for months. How do I handle six?”
He reassured me that my fear was common, but that didn’t make it less real. Remission, I learned, came with its own challenges. Instead of the constant appointments and treatment that gave me structure, there was space—room for fear to creep in.
Even now, years after my diagnosis and treatment, I still feel that same anxiety before every six-month visit. I wonder: What if my bloodwork is bad? What if the cancer is back?
Everyday Triggers You Don’t Expect
Post cancer treatment anxiety doesn’t only show up at doctor visits. Sometimes it sneaks in unexpectedly:
A commercial about breast cancer that pops up during a TV show.
Walking into a store in October and seeing shelves lined with pink ribbons.
Hearing casual conversations about “warriors” or “fighters” that don’t always fit how I experienced my journey.
For a long time, I avoided wearing anything pink or related to breast cancer awareness. I just couldn’t connect with it. Only recently have I felt comfortable putting on something symbolic—on my own terms.
Tools that Helped Me
Even as a therapist, I’ve had moments when anxiety felt overwhelming. Through breast cancer—and later thyroid cancer—I leaned on every tool I could find.
Here are a few that helped me most:
Finding a Mantra: Sometimes it came as prayer, sometimes repeating a phrase or a word to help me get centered and to decrease anxiety.
Therapy: I shifted from monthly to weekly sessions during the hardest seasons. Having that space mattered.
Meditation & movement: Daily meditation, sometimes multiple times a day, and exercise gave me strength and calm.
Connection: Reaching out to friends, being honest with my family, and choosing doctors who listened and even made me laugh.
What My Cancer Diagnosis Taught Me
Having had cancer has forced me to use my voice. I’ve learned to speak up when I feel dismissed, to slow down when my body needs rest, and to be honest about fear. Being in remission from Breast Cancer hasn’t erased my anxiety—but it has shown me resilience.
If You’re Navigating Anxiety after Cancer
If you’re struggling, please know you’re not alone. Feeling anxious doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or “weak.” It means you’ve lived through something life-changing, and your mind and body are still learning how to feel safe again.
As someone who has had cancer and a therapist, I want to gently remind you: support can make this journey lighter.
If you live in Florida and are looking for a space to process the anxiety that comes with survivorship—or any kind of chronic illness—I would be honored to walk alongside you.
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Erin Gray, LMHC – Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Email: erin@bewellwithincounseling.com | Phone: 407-302-8622
Learn more about my practice: www.bewellwithincounseling.com
Co-host of the weekly podcast: Wicked Psychotherapists