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[24M] Scared of cancer - Not sure what is happening to me

worriedanon7
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I'm a 24M who initially had a sharp sudden pain come on below my right rib at the end of January (accompanied with horrific back pain). This pain has not gone and is still with me. The doctors have told me it's most likely muscular skeletal, but have sent me for ultrasound abdominal scans, colonoscopy, x-rays and blood tests which have all came up clear.

 

My issue is that since this time I have had some severe symptoms crop up and none of these have resolved (back pain, throat & chest pain, trouble swallowing, dizziness, headaches, shooting pains to limbs). In the last week I've had trouble swallowing and an extremely tight neck, so am wondering if I have stomach/throat cancer and if it's all linked to my constant abdominal pain? Every possible outcome just seems to point towards the big C.

 

I've had so many tests where I thought they were going to tell me I had cancer and that was going to be it. The thought of going through more of this is absolutely destroying me right now, and I cannot cope. I'm expecting them to refer me for a gastroscopy which frightens the absolute life out of me, even though statistically its unlikely it's never unheard of right?

 

I'm very aware I have severe health anxiety right now, but am worried I am actually extremely ill in addition to having such anxiety.

 

Any messages/thoughts would be hugely appreciated. Thank you.

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    Hi Worriedanon7

     

    Glad all the tests have came back clear, I have had a look at your past posts and you have mentioned lots of symptoms and possible cancer diagnosis. Wondering why your're so fixated about cancer when all the tests have came back negitive, a lot of your symptoms can be put down to stress, has your GP talked about possible mental health issues such as anxiety etc? I think you need to have this type of conversation with a health professional as thinking worse case scenario with every symptom you have is not healthy and will be having a big impact on your life. 

    Posting on cancer forums, looking up the internet for every symptom you encounter is not helping you.  We all have aches and pains thoughtout our lives very few of us would think these are due to cancer.  Please be open to the possibility that your symptoms are down to something other than cancer.

  • Offline in reply to Magpiemaggie

    Thank you for the reply Magpie,

     

    I think I just gravitate to the worst scenario, and the fact it's chronic and seems to have progressed to more symptoms makes me worried. I'm honestly have myself convinced I have some form of cancer, which is jumping the gun and is silly at this stage. 
     

    I've mentioned to my GP about the stress this is causing me, and he is reluctant to go down that route before we have done certain tests, which is understandable. I'm meant to have a CT scan done privately tomorrow, but I'm so scared of the results that I'm wondering wether to go through with it. The gastro consultant said it will just cross the t's and dot the i's, but it's causing me severe stress that I'm unsure what to do. The wait for results will seriously eat me up. 

  • Offline in reply to worriedanon7

    Hi again

     

    Why are you having a CT scan?   I take it you have arranged this rather than a health professional. its up to you whether to have one or not but I think you have to ask yourself what it will take for you to bring this to a conclusion. If the CT scan comes back all clear will that bring an end to your anxieties? if not what will? how many tests will it take?

    I'm disappointed your GP did not look at the anxiety side of this, perhaps after your scan you could go back an talk about your anxiety?  Hope you get to the bottom of this x

  • Offline in reply to worriedanon7

    Hi - sounds like doctors are being thorough. There are outcomes beyond cancer and stress (non-life threatening things so please don't worry yourself into a tizz) which would show on a CT scan. Doctor has raised other possibilities than cancer with you and the scan would give insight into that. A CT scan can look at joints and soft tissues, such as cartilage, muscles, and tendons as well as bones so can flag up any muscular-skeletal issues. Hopefully you will get to the bottom of things soon. Please try not to fixate on cancer. As you say you are considering the worst possibility every time which isn't doing you any good. You need to try and relax. Maybe try some mindfulness or similar to get you through the waiting period. You don't need to be referred to a health practitioner to do simple relaxation. Good luck!

  • Offline in reply to worriedanon7

    Hi worriedanon7,

    If you have the CT scan, it might be helpful to commit to yourself in advance that if the scan is clear you will no longer have any excuse to worry.

    Good luck and best wishes,

    Roger.

  • Offline in reply to Roger_D

    Sadly I've had to reschedule my CT for next week. I speak to the GI specialist in two weeks so would get the results on the same day, regardless.

     

    I'm very worried my back pain and RUQ are indicitive of cancer in all honesty. I'm going to speak to my GP about my health anxiety tomorrow.

  • Offline in reply to worriedanon7

    Glad to hear you're going to see your GP tomorrow, I guess they will have the results of your tests i.e.

    Abdomen ultrasound = CLEAR

    Blood tests = CLEAR

    Chest X-ray = CLEAR

    Abdomen X-ray = CLEAR

    Colonoscopy = CLEAR

     

    So the question I would be asking the GP is "not sure what is happening to me - I'm scared of cancer"

     

    Might be an idea to let them know you are on a cancer online chat and show them what you have written.

    All the best

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