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I think I have cancer, but I'm too scared to go the doctor!

Posted , 4 users are following.

sarah81160
sarah81160

I am a 16 year old female, I have never smoked. I think I have health anxiety.

I feel completely ridiculous typing this; any rational person would go to the doctor's as soon as any fishy symptom showed up... but not me. 

I have often convinced myself that I have cancer (random chest pains convinced me I had lung cancer at 15), and most of the symptoms of this have gone away. But not this one; during my lung cancer panic, I read somewhere that with metastasis to the throat, throat pain occurs. Then, I started getting a raw, painful feeling throat several times a day, and always when I woke up. Chest pains subsided after someone online told me there was virtually no chance of lung cancer, but the throat never subsided. 

It is now a year later, and I still get a sore throat several times a day. I have told no one, which I know is completely stupid, but my fear of going to the doctor's stops me from doing the rational thing. I am terrified of being told I have cancer, and having to live in hospital with chemo therapy, even though going early would minimise the chance of needing chemo. 

I have other symptoms too, with small lumps in my mouth, frequent need to clear my throat (could be caused by anxiety), sores in my mouth... 

I feel I'm dying, but still don't want to go to the doctor's. I am crying just thinking about it.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • caz19600
    caz19600 sarah81160

    Posted

    No one likes to be told bad news, so I can understand your fear but honestly you need to go see the doctor if this is concerning you. Likelihood it isn't cancer. I'm no medical professional but I would imagine after a year of it you'd have started developing other symptoms too. But it's clearly causing you distress.

    Get a friend or family member to book the appointment for you and go with you to it. Xx

  • caz19600
    caz19600 sarah81160

    Posted

    Fyi by other symptoms, I mean losing weight, feeling sick etc. I think most people have small lumps/bumps on the back of their throats. The sores could be a sign of deficiency of some kind or a viral infection so definitely best to get checked
  • Philly89
    Philly89 sarah81160

    Posted

    As others have said, I highly doubt this is anything serious or cancerous. You would not be having the same symptoms for a year if it were - you'd have gotten much worse by now.

    I do think you should muster up the courage and head to your Dr as this is clearly worrying you and causing a lot of stress. You will feel so much better when u go and u find out u don't have cancer or any other serious illness lol.

    I also highly recommend seeing a therapist. Can you talk to your parents about this maybe and see their thoughts? I see one for my health anxiety and it helps me a lot. It definitely sounds like you have some health anxiety and seeing a therapist could make you feel better.

  • diederik95169
    diederik95169 sarah81160

    Posted

    The lumps you mentioned could just be taste buds in your mouth, look up some images and your mind will be more at ease.

    And for the rest of the symptoms,  try watching wireless wake up call on youtube and try comparing your symptoms to the ones mentioned there.

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