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Emetophobia

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Hi,

I have just joined this forum after being diagnosed with 'invasive breast cancer' 11 days ago following a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy.  I go back to hospital on Tuesday to find out full details and a treatment plan. 

Like other people on here, a range of emotions abound for me and my partner of 25 years.  My biggest problem is I suffer with a lifelong terror of feeling/being sick and haven't been sick for over 50 years. I am 64 now and was last sick as a young child.

I have always said 'I'd rather die than be sick' and now I fear I may be faced with that choice if part of a treatment plan advised to me involves chemotherapy with it's associated nausea/vomiting side effects.  I understand there are powerful anti-emetics but I couldn't get to that point of daring to find out if they would actually stop any of it!  At the moment I feel so trapped and helpless because I expect the terror I feel will result in me refusing chemotherapy if I needed it and therefore probably limiting my life chances etc.

Is there anyone else on here with a similar fear/phobia?  If so, I would love to hear your decisions/experiences.  I would also appreciate any other replies.  Just sharing on here helps.

 

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    Hi,

     

    Firstly, I am so sorry you are going through this. 
     

    secondly, not everyone gets sick with chemo and/or radiation and/or surgery. It sounds like you rarely get sick, so the likelihood of you getting sick with treatment is already diminished. 
    they also give you some pretty good medication. Ondansetron and Cyclizine work best for me. 
     

    I hsed to have emetophobia. It was so bad and I couldn't leave the house because the fear overwhelmed me. I really recommend therapy if you can. I went through therapy and it helped so much. It helped me understand that emetophobia isn't actually very much about the fear of vomit. It is actually about the fear of not being in control. I.e. not being able to control whether something comes out of you or not. It is horrible, but when you start the understand that, it becomes a lot easier to deal with. 
     

    also, I know everyone said this, and I never believed them until I recovered from emetophobia, but when I was sick (NOT from chemo or other cancer treatment), I realised that it really wasn't anywhere near as bad as I remembered. Emetophobia is the fear of not being in control, and also the fear or being anxious when you're sick. Think about it: why are you scared of vomiting? You're likely scared of getting anxious when feeling sick. 
     

    you can get through this. You can ask for extra anti-sickness and also sedatives to help you stay calm. You can do it. This time next year, you'll be glad you were treated. 
     

    All the best

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    Hi there, 

    I'm so, so sorry you're going through this. 

    My mum was diagnosed with lung cancer and like you she was not by nature a sickly person. I was the one worrying about it as I too am a lifelong emetophobic and I was caring for her.

    However she wasn't sick at all, not once.

    I do hope this helps a little. I know it's a totally different subject but when I was in labour I was given anti emetics because of my fear, despite never being sick throughout my pregnancy, and I was absolutely fine with them. No side effects, nothing. They really did give me a bit of an insurance policy, if you like, and helped me to stay calm.

    Nowadays they have many ways to reduce your chances of being ill, the fact that you're not naturally sickly should stand you in good stead.

    The very best of luck to you and wishing you all the very best x

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    I am having this problem as well. I have been diignosed with bowel cancer and waiting scan results etc.  I have life long emetophobia and am seriously considering refusal of chemo. Mentally I wouldn't be fit enough to take it and I therefore feel it would do more harm than good.  

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