So really you know what you have to do, stop googling!!  I've just been talking to a friend today, same age as me, 71 years but young at heart, don't forget we're the children of the sixties, an exciting challenging time for us, no social media, no Internet, no googling, we lived our lives, ignored aches and pains, we knew most would go away on their own, and they did, we never discussed cancer as it wasn't in our vocabulary, but we lost grandparents and parents to cancer, my grandad lost his battle with lung cancer whilst I was pregnant with my first baby but never once did it occur to me that I might get it.  So my point is, live each day without worry and stress, it gets you precisely no where, even now as I look after my lovely husband who has lung cancer, not once have I googled his symptons, there is an old saying, never listen behind closed doors as you may hear something you don't wish to hear, to me googling is the same.  So enjoy each day, love your children and be happy for them, they don't need a worried Mummy.  So big hugs your way and look after you.  Carol 

Thank you for your words. Health anxiety consumes my whole

life. 

Hi Nn, 

I feel that health anxiety rules my life too and it's horrible, my other problem is I daren't go for any medical tests either I worry going to the dentist in case he finds mouth cancer, I worry going to the optician because my mum had macular degenrative desease and am convinced the "speckles" the found on my mcular last time is leading me the same way, I wont have cervical smears or mamograms because I am terrified of them finding something, I am at my wits end with it all.

Hi Terrifiedtoo,

I am so sorry to hear how health anxiety and fear of any medical tests is ruining your life. Have you considered getting help for this, as your fears could be storing up more problems for you? It might be worth considering counselling or even hypnotherapy to help, but this should make your life much easier.

Please keep in touch and let us know what you decide to do. 

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Nn

I am the opposite. Every time I get a sensation I want to go to the doctors and have it checked out. Until I have seen the doctor I cannot relax. I will wrestle with the symptoms for one or two weeks and if they don't go then I make an appointment to see the doctor and sometimes I am referred for ultrasound or scan and sometimes the doctor can reassure me. I'm not saying what I do is the right thing to do but I do get periods when I don't have to worry once I've had it checked out. Hope you're ok. 

Hi everyone and it's all so sad that you live your lives worrying about dying. So you do not see that ?  I truly struggle to sympathise as it's all such a waste and my life has been for living fully. Even four years into this cancer battle that my husband and I live daily we have always tried to get on with our lovely beautiful life. Family are here for the first time in ten months and we have filled every hour with laughter, food and journeys to the beach, the river and I'm just on my way out with hubby in tow to have coffee and cake before they go home. Please think of the good things in life and put others first. Trust me it works. Carol. X

Hi everyone and it's all so sad that you live your lives worrying about dying. So you do not see that ?  I truly struggle to sympathise as it's all such a waste and my life has been for living fully. Even four years into this cancer battle that my husband and I live daily we have always tried to get on with our lovely beautiful life. Family are here for the first time in ten months and we have filled every hour with laughter, food and journeys to the beach, the river and I'm just on my way out with hubby in tow to have coffee and cake before they go home. Please think of the good things in life and put others first. Trust me it works. Carol. X

Hi, it is sad most of us are worrying ourselves like this but it is an illness and needs treatment just like cancer does. I for one try every day to forget my fears but accessing therapy on the NHS is long winded and scarce so am going down the private route as I am lucky to be able to afford it.

It's encouraging to see it can be done. Xx

Dor06 is right, though.

I sympathise, but I must say, if you have health anxiety but have not been diagnosed with cancer, then posting on a cancer chat forum is probably not the best idea.

Most of the participants here are either living with cancer or caring for someone who is.  Therefore, a lot of the stories you will hear will be positive diagnoses, arduous treatments and yes, sometimes death.

Of course you should get your symptoms checked out by your GP and [@terrifiedtoo]‍ please don't skip the standard tests that are intended to protect you from your worst fears.  But if you've had the all-clear, then rejoice.

I'm not sure it's really helping you to read about cancer all the time.  I'm not entirely sure it's helping me and my cancer is confirmed.
You might like to have a look at this forum, if you haven't seen it already
www.anxietyuk.org.uk/.../

Hello I suffer from bad health anxiety but I would not post on a cancer forum unless I or someone close to me were currently being treated for it, which is the case. Thank you for your concern.

I really do sympathise and my comment was intended to be helpful and not in any way critical - I hope it didn't come across that way.  I was really addressing people who have been told they don't have cancer.   

Myself, I've been in a seemingly endless round of tests and waiting anxiously for results - currently waiting for PET scan results and gene tests on the cancer to see what sort of follow-up treatment I can have.  I am normally an optimistic person.  I've changed my approach somewhat over the past 6 months because I have so far always been on the "wrong side" of the statistics.  So now, I try to accept that it's likely bad news, and then I'm prepared and not crushed.  If it's good, I can be pleasantly surprised.  Is that weird?

I hope your treatment goes well and sorry you are having to go through this too.