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Constantly worried that I have Cancer

Posted , 4 users are following.

christina72856
christina72856

Hello Everyone!

Over the last couple of months i have been suffering with health anxiety. It all started on the 19th March when i went to A&E with chest pains and heart palpitations (i was convinced that i was having a heart attack) after hours of tests and waiting they let me go home and said they suspected that i had an anxiety attack. Although the doctors wanted to be sure so i am still waiting for an appointment to come through the post to have a ECG fitted for 7 days to check on my heart palpitations are nothing to worry about (understandably with the current pandemic its taking a while to get the appointment) Since then i have been suffering with stomach pains and loss of apatite (the doctors think its just a bit of acid reflux) I have had everything go through my head. Firstly i thought i had stomach cancer, then bowel cancer. Then i had some sensitivity in my armpits and glands so i immediately thought it was lymphoma. Then i noticed an unusual mole on my scalp, surprise surprise i think its melanoma (i have since been to the doctors to have it checked and they said its nothing to worry about). And most recently i have been having tension headaches and a itchy scalp, and yep you guessed it my mind jumps to the conclusion that it must be a brain tumour!

I am completely aware that my fears are completely irrational. And i am only 27 years old so relatively low risk for most of these problems, but i am still terrified that i will miss a symptom and then it will be too late. I never used to be like this, i have a 8 month old baby boy and the thought of not seeing him grow up terrifies me.

Sorry that this was so long, I was just curious if anyone else has been feeling the same way and if they had any tips to help me chill out!

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • diane98246
    diane98246 christina72856

    Edited

    Hi Christina . . . I was exactly your age when I used to have terrible anxiety that I had cancer and/or a brain tumor and other gruesome things like that. I spent every day like this. I also had panic attacks at around age 21.

    But as I grew older this sort of thing faded and I never thought about it again. So I can offer you this hope - that number one you dont have any of the things you worry that you have; and number two anxiety of this kind will eventually fade.

    If I had it to do over though I would get the help of a therapist and get prescribed some anxiety medication.

    • christina72856
      christina72856 diane98246

      Edited

      Thanks Diane! Its good to know that i'm not the only one who has felt this way. I think my biggest problem is that i need to stop consulting Dr Google. I am seriously considering going to my GP to discuss all of my anxieties and feelings but with the recent pandemic i feel as though i would be wasting their valuable time.

    • diane98246
      diane98246 christina72856

      Posted

      You should never feel that your needs are wasting anyone's time but if it were me I would not want to go to any doctor's office or clinic during this episode of virus. You could call the doctor's office and ask to speak over the phone. I'm sure they would understand using this approach at a time like this.

      There was no google back when I had your problems but there were 'book stores' and they were my worst enemy because of my going there to read up on the grisly conditions I thought I had.

      What is called for is definitely not 'research' but instead learning how to deal internally with your fears and anxieties and learning how to do this will serve you your whole life long. My biggest learning experience was how to simply turn off such thoughts.

      F.E.A.R. stands for False Events Appearing Real !!

      .

  • Unknown343
    Unknown343 christina72856

    Posted

    Hi Christina

    i too am in your shoes, worried about cancer constantly, any symptom i am convinced its the c word!!!

    i self referred to a therapy service ran by the NHS and due to start CBT in the next couple of weeks which i am hoping will help, but in the meantime i am still struggling with a stress belly (IBS the GP thinks) yet convinced its cancer and think my whole family are getting really irritated with me!

    just know that you are not alone x

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