Abnormal blood levels. Terrified of cancer.

[JohnM]

I'm 22 years old, and yesterday I got some blood results back that said I have abnormally high levels of bilirubin, protein, and calcium in my blood, and I can't get more tests until next week. I have been in a state of constant terror since yesterday, sure I'm dying of cancer or something. Today I almost fainted. Are my fears warranted?

 

[janemariesayed]

Hello John. I think Bilrubin in something to do with the liver or jaundice. I really think that you need to wait for the tests and results but in the mean time try not to worry. Hard though that is, it may not be something dreadful, but rather something that is easily rectified.

If you think that something is wrong with your liver, the first thing I would do is taking a vit D supplement. Your doctor can suggest some good vitamins to take and perhaps a change in your diet.

 

[Mrs_MustardSeed]

There are probably plenty causes of this before we get all the way to cancer. I would tell you to google other causes, but I don't recommend it, as the internet will send you into a spiral of depression and fear. Trust me, they always give to worse case scenarios, and I'm willing to bet the internet has played a large role in your fear of having cancer. More than likely, it's something treatable, and can be easily regulated with medication or maybe something as simple as a diet change. There are so many other benign conditions that we never consider because cancer is consistently shoved down our throats. Trust me, I know the fear of cancer is real, as a suffer from it. Of course its always a possibility...but so is getting struck by lightening and winning the lotto for 100 million. We have to try to remember that just because something is possible doesn't necessarily make it likely. I'm sure you'll be ok, and make sure you get a doctor with good bedside manner, who can explain things to you explicitly, and give all possible root causes for this abnormality. I'm pretty sure the first few he/she gives you wont be cancer.

 

[janemariesayed]

The problem as well is, although I am for any charity fundraising but all I see on the tv is adverts for cancer fundraising. Give £2 a month and so on. I hear the word cancer every time the adverts come on. If I watch tv every day, then I see those ads every day, and every quarter of an hour! It's no wonder that some of us are afraid of it when it is being brainwashed into us. It makes me frustrated and I hate it because the ads scare me and make me anxious. I turn the sound off or change the channel for a few minutes whenever they come on.

 

[Mrs_MustardSeed]

The problem as well is, although I am for any charity fundraising but all I see on the tv is adverts for cancer fundraising. Give £2 a month and so on. I hear the word cancer every time the adverts come on. If I watch tv every day, then I see those ads every day, and every quarter of an hour! It's no wonder that some of us are afraid of it when it is being brainwashed into us. It makes me frustrated and I hate it because the ads scare me and make me anxious. I turn the sound off or change the channel for a few minutes whenever they come on.

Yeah, I really try to ignore those things to. For example, I watch a lot of make up tutorials and hair stuff on YouTube, and one of the women, whom I don't even watch, made a video telling everyone she has a brain tumor. It came up in my suggested videos and I have absolutely no idea why. I hate stuff like that because I internalize it and immediately start worrying that something like that could happen to me. Even my boyfriend knows to turn down the TV, or hide any and everything that has to do with cancer. It's such a scary and insidious disease and I wish it didn't exist.

 

[JohnM]

Thanks for all the help you guys. It really means a lot. Went to my doctor and they drew some more blood, so I'll unfortunately have to wait a whole other week to find out for sure. He says the bilirubin is most likely due to a harmless liver disorder called Gilbert's disease, and that the protein and calcium are most likely a blip in the test itself. This next week will be hell for me, but I still appreciate y'all's reassurance.

 

[Mrs_MustardSeed]

Thanks for all the help you guys. It really means a lot. Went to my doctor and they drew some more blood, so I'll unfortunately have to wait a whole other week to find out for sure. He says the bilirubin is most likely due to a harmless liver disorder called Gilbert's disease, and that the protein and calcium are most likely a blip in the test itself. This next week will be hell for me, but I still appreciate y'all's reassurance.

I know exactly how you feel, but see, your doctor doesn't think its anything life threatening so don't worry!

 

[janemariesayed]

Yeah, I really try to ignore those things to. For example, I watch a lot of make up tutorials and hair stuff on YouTube, and one of the women, whom I don't even watch, made a video telling everyone she has a brain tumor. It came up in my suggested videos and I have absolutely no idea why. I hate stuff like that because I internalize it and immediately start worrying that something like that could happen to me. Even my boyfriend knows to turn down the TV, or hide any and everything that has to do with cancer. It's such a scary and insidious disease and I wish it didn't exist.

Things apparently exist because we believe them to. At least that is what I think. That is why I turn the telly over or the sound off and look away while the ad is on. I am very sorry for everyone who suffers from that illness but I really cannot bear to see it so much. I don't like hospitals either because of all the sickness and being around all that negative energy it scares the life out of me!