The Two-Week Rule

By Megan

From The Occasional Hot Flash

You know about the two-week rule, right? No? Then I'm going to tell you about something that has spared me hours of stress.

Like many women who've had breast cancer, I became a hypochondriac after completing treatment. Without chemo and radiation to protect me from my disease, I felt vulnerable to its return. And every sore muscle and virus signaled a relapse to me. I couldn't find the balance between healthy vigilance and debilitating anxiety. Then someone told me about the two-week rule.
 
When you first notice a symptom, write it down, along with the date of onset and anything that might explain it (overexerting at the gym, a fall, eating an unfamiliar food). Then forget about it. You don't need to worry. You've got it covered. In two weeks, if you still have the symptom, you'll make an appointment with your doctor.
 
There's something reassuring about writing it down and knowing you're going to follow up in two weeks. And most symptoms disappear or improve within that time. Those that don't are a legitimate reason to check with your doctor – without embarrassment.
 
Of course, the two-week rule applies only to symptoms that make you anxious but do not constitute severe pain or clear evidence of disease. If you've got either of those, dial your doctor immediately.

Please share your tips for reducing post-treatment stress. 

Posted March 30, 2011.