When King Charles and Princess Kate were diagnosed with cancer within weeks of each other earlier this year, the unfortunate reality – that cancer is widely prevalent - was highlighted for the world to see.

So prevalent in fact that one in two Australian men and women are projected to be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85, meaning that nearly every one of us has been directly impacted by the disease in some way.

The reporting of high-profile cancer experiences like King Charles and Princess Kate, or of celebrities like Kylie Minogue, Angelina Jolie and Olivia Munn, can often bring positive flow-on effects like an increase in testing, awareness of cancer types, gene mutations and treatments.

However, when combined with the statistics, they can also contribute to worry and concern amongst the public, specifically, a fear around being diagnosed with and having cancer.

In some cases, this worry can be so extensive that it is diagnosed as a phobia: carcinophobia.

“Carcinophobia is a specific irrational, illogical, and/or excessive fear of cancer," says the principal clinical psychologist at Sydney Phobia Clinic, Dr Corrie Ackland.

"This could be a fear of cancer in others, or in oneself, or both, and would typically generalise to all references to cancer, including in conversations, movie depictions, and print media."

“The interesting thing about this as a phobia is that, as might be obvious, no one would like cancer. However, the fear goes beyond this – [it's] increasingly anticipatory (one might worry about going to the hospital in case they saw someone who was obviously suffering from cancer) and would include extreme distress in the presence of a cancer-related trigger.” 

Symptoms of carcinophobia

There are a variety of signs that may indicate carcinophobia ranging from physiological effects to changes in behaviour. These include:

#1. Physiological signs

Some of the main physiological symptoms of the phobia are similar to those brought on by anxiety, says Dr Ackland. These include racing worrisome thoughts, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, agitation, and butterflies.

“They can be triggered by cancer-related stimuli such as sufferers and conversations,” Dr Ackland says.

#2. Avoidance

Avoidance can include avoiding a range of triggers - specific people, places, articles, tv shows, or even saying the word.

It can also include the avoidance of certain activities, says Dr Ackland. 

“Avoidance of activities that may increase the risk of cancer i.e. inhaling passive smoke and paradoxically might include avoidance of getting any scans or tests which might identify cancer.

This is one of the behaviours which is somewhat unique to these kinds of phobias- as the fear is attached more to the topic of cancer than the condition,” she says. 

#3. Changes in behaviour

Another sign can include adopting a suite of unnecessary coping behaviours aka safety behaviours.

These include researching the condition, reassurance seeking from others that they don’t have cancer, distraction, holding their breath and closing their eyes.

Additionally, Dr Ackland says that anxiety around cancer can be expressed through a broader anxiety condition such as generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or illness anxiety disorder.

Each of these conditions has their own separate list of symptoms and effects differentiating it from carcinophobia but together with it, means that “cancer-related anxiety is not uncommon.”

 “This is likely due to the fact that cancer is a serious health condition and can be life-threatening, creating some degree of worry even in the normal-range, similar to the otherwise fears of death and dying. 

Anxiety is also related to an intolerance of uncertainty, which makes us prone to worry about illnesses particularly when symptoms can be invisible, difficult to detect, or associated with symptoms which can be benign such as blemishes or moles or mild discomfort,” Dr Ackland says.

How to manage carcinophobia 

If you think you have carcinophobia or anxiety around cancer, the first port of call is to see your health practitioner.

“In the absence of any physical symptoms and/or having been medically screened and cleared, you should consider seeking professional support to manage it,” Dr Ackland says.

One approach often recommended by mental health experts is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), an evidence-based treatment that couples physiological management strategies like breathing and relaxation techniques, with cognitive strategies.

“They apply rational perspective or ‘unhook’ from intrusive or persistent worry- to support you to participate more fully in life again despite triggers,” Dr Ackland says.

 “Through a tailored and structured exposure plan, you may benefit from specific practice tasks to help you break the anxiety-related habits of avoidance or safety behaviour management of these triggers, with the ultimate goal of reducing the frequency, intensity, and duration of anxiety in relation to cancer triggers.

"Additionally, CBT may help you better tolerate the uncertainty.”