Fear of cancer recurrence is often spoken about as though it were one uniform experience, but the way it shows up in people’s thinking can differ considerably from one person to the next. For some, the dominant thoughts are about dying. For others, the fear centres on the prospect of going through treatment again, or…

Fear of cancer recurrence exists on a continuum. At one end, it is a natural, adaptive response to having had cancer — occasional thoughts about recurrence that come and go without taking over. At the other end, it can become all-consuming: a persistent, heavy presence that interferes with daily life, relationships, and the ability to…