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Terrified I have cervical/vaginal cancer

lunafax
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I'm 23 and it all started when I noticed headaches/pressure in my head and all the symptoms of a brain tumour about 3 weeks ago. Mental functions feel impaired, vision issues, unsteady on feet etc. Doctors wouldn't send me for a scan as they said my neurological exam looks clean, however I am still worried so have paid to have an MRI done on Wednesday next week. Also getting blood tests done same day as further diagnostics for the head pain/issues.

 

For months (possible years I'm not sure??) I've had what feels like a swelling/lump and the area feels bumpy just inside my vagina. If I press it or push around the area it burns a bit. I've never thought anything of it because to be honest I can't remember a time when I didn't have it, so I don't know how long it's been there. I think it's a lump but I'm not sure what it's supposed to feel like so I don't know if it's abnormal or not. It hasn't really bothered me, and up until now I hadn't even connected the dots. I assumed it was just what the inside of a normal vagina feels like.
I don't bleed but I suppose that after sex I would ache a little, maybe slight burning? But it's never been something that was bad enough for me to notice and never painful. Also since breaking up with my boyfriend a few months ago it hasn't been an issue so I didn't think about it all until now. I would get burning when peeing on and off occasionally but never for long periods of time so always assumed it was cistitis/got antibiotics for that. I would get thrush-like symptoms occasionally, itching etc but they would always go away with cream. I also had a scan of my ovaries about 1 year ago (for polycystic) and they didn't pick up on anything but then I don't suppose that scan would.
 

I've looked at the symptoms and now I'm convinced I have cervical or vaginal cancer and it has spread to my brain which is why I'm having the tumour symptoms. I'm so scared. Its been burning when I pee for the past few days on and off. I have a GP appointment on Monday where she's going to do an exam but I just know she's going to take one look and agree that it's bad.
 

I can't believe I didn't go to my GP sooner but I really didn't think there was an issue because none of the symptoms affected my life and they always went away or were easily explained by other things. I felt fit and healthy, now I'm convinced I'll only have months to live. I'm terrified. I know there's not much I can do till Monday but is there anyone who has been through either of those who can relate? I'm only 23, I've barely even lived and now I'm terrified I don't have long left.

 

thanks

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    Hi!

     

    I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this. I don't know if I'll be able to help any, but I'm a similar age to you (22) and there are a few things you mentioned that I have had as well!

     

    I had the same worry about a brain tumour most of last year and early this year! Out of nowhere I started to get terrible headaches/migraines, and awful pressure, usually in the back of my head and in my face. I started to get other symptoms, like vision impairment, my balance went a bit funny and I was unsteady on my feet, I couldn't think straight, I was getting abnormally irritable, etc... I was absolutely 100% convinced I had a brain tumour.

     

    Tension headache is the diagnosis the GP stuck to for a while, especially given all my regular neurological exams were clear. But I was still convinced and kept going back to the doctor. They prescribed me sumatriptan for migraines, naproxen for tension headaches, propanolol for anxiety/tension headaches, sinusitis medication... Nothing made it any better. It got to the point where worrying about a brain tumour had consumed my entire life and my GP sent my for a CT scan, to put my mind at rest, if anything.

     

    A few weeks after the CT, I got my results - they were clear. No tumour. I was probably the most relieved I had ever been in my life. After that, the headaches actually subsided on their own - maybe my anxiety was actually enough to give me all that contant pain/pressure. I still get migraines now and again but it's nowhere near as constant. Obviously I can't say for certain what's going on in your case - I'm glad you booked the MRI and are getting checked down below too. I really really hope all goes well for you. I guess what I'm saying it to just bear in mind that anxiety very much has the ability to make you absolutely certain that something sinister is going on when it might not be.

     

    The other thing I wanted to say is I have that area in my vagina too. It's like it doesn't feel like a smooth tunnel, but rather there are big puffy bits, and lumpy bits? It gets even puffier/swollen when I'm turner on, either alone or during sexual intercourse, and if I press it then it does burn a tiny bit. I don't know what it's supposed to feel like either, so I'd say definitely get it checked out if you're worried about it. If it helps, I have had a lot of examinations/speculum tests down there during which they were obviously able to see/feel what it was like down there, and they never mentioned it was anything to worry about. Even recently when I've been having problems with my cervix, they didn't say anything else in there looked unhealthy or "not right" other than my actual cervix. I'm going to ask them about it at my gynaecology appointment too just to make sure, so hopefully it's nothing to worry about for either of us!

     

    I really hope this helped a bit, even just to know there are others with the same things going on! I hope you get on okay! Sending you hugs x

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    Hello Lunafax,

     

    I hope your wel I know this was a long time ago but I was just wondering if you ever found out what this was? 

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