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So, so, anxious waiting for endoscopy results

Jessicarabbit
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Hi, 

I'm waiting for biopsy results for a submucosal lesion found on an endoscopy last week. 

I'm 100% convinced they are going to come back to tell me its cancer. The endoscopist said he didn't think it looked like a cancer and it was probably benign and they didn't find anything on a ct (just stomach inflammation)

I'm just so, so scared. I spoke to my gp yesterday (well, a locum) about the anxiety and whether I should maybe jump back on to my anxiety meds which I came off last year and he was like "this is a normal reaction don't worry" but it's taking up every minute in my head. 

Everyone keeps saying that gastric cancer is rare in my age range (37 - today), it's a small thing and it could still be an ulcer or lipoma. Apparently most lesions are benign but I don't find comfort in any of this. Plus the gp I spoke to yesterday said a ct wouldn't have found anything anyway.

I'm going to die. 

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    Hello Jessicarabbit, 

    I am sorry to hear you are waiting for biopsy results for a submucosal lesion found on an endoscopy last week. Try not worry too much or expect the worst as there are so many other things it could be and you can be reassured by what the endoscopist said, that he didn't think it looked like cancer and that it was probably benign. Those were very reassuring words so try to focus on that and to keep well away from the temptation to look anything up online as this will only make you more anxious. 

    Your GP is right that it is a normal reaction which many members of our forum will be able to relate to, a time when the long wait can make you fear or imagine the worst. But what you are fearing is often the least likely scenario. Gastric cancer is indeed rare at your age and I hope that you will manage to find comfort in the fact that you were told that most lesions are benign. Waiting for results is not easy and there are helpful tips on this page on how to cope while waiting for important news. 

    I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

    Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

     

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    Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. I agree with everybody who said it's normal to fear the worst and be preoccupied by it. I mean, I'm not a mental health professional but I had a scare last summer (thankfully turned out to be nothing) and I was pretty overwhelmed by it. I don't have a history of anxiety and in fact, I'm noted for being pretty calm about things, but the possibility of cancer, no matter how slim that is, is a big deal and it's hard not to think, "but what if I'm that one in a hundred where it turns out to be cancer against all the odds. They must be checking fo something, so there could be a chance." 

    I also think when you have been on edge for a while, it's normal to doubt "is it really OK now? Could something have been missed?"

    Hope you get the results soon and they turn out to be reassuring.

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