The “Boogie Man of Cancer” lurks in the dark corners of our psyche waiting to pounce on us when a symptom grabs us and spins us around.  It’s really confusing to know when to pay attention and when to just get on with the day feeling lousy.  In an August 29, 2013 New York Times (NYTimes.com) blog, Living with Cancer: Is It Back?, Susan Gubar describes the mind horrors that can wreak havoc with us when we feel like crap. In my household this phenomenon is known as “The Cancer Pimple.”

Gubar reminds us of an old joke about the psychiatric patient who declares before dying, “Of course I’m paranoid. Something out there is trying to kill me.”  The not-so-well-known theory about someone who is paranoid is that  there is often a kernel of truth in their perceptions. It’s important to acknowledge the truth in the paranoia. This also creates the space to actually do a reality check,  which is not a bad idea anyway. After regaining at least a decent grip on reality,the issue then becomes how much or how little power is given to that kernel of truth.

I believe that the kernel of truth at the source of  the fear of cancer recurrance is fear itself.  It’s natural, it’s normal, it’s painful and, sometimes, it’s funny.  But, bottom line, it’s real.  Once we own this,  we can make choices about the amount of power we give to our fright.

I advocate being kind to fear.  Caring works well with scary moments.  Turn on the light, look under the bed and in the closet and, most likely, the Boogie Man will be long gone.  At least … that’s what I hope …