One of the reasons why I feel I am so terrified is that I hear that people who have no symptoms, or pain and feel fine, find out that they have stage 4 cancer. This blows my mind. I am constantly evaluating every bump, spot and change in my body. I no longer enjoy my life. I used to be carefree with hobbbies, friend and led a full life. Now I can barely get out of bed in the morning. Please help put my mind at ease. I have to go for a mammogram on Thursday and I'm sitting here in bed trembling with fear.
Crippling Cancer Fears
- Thread starter edm
- Start date
I am the same way with being terrified of cancer. Been going through a spell for several weeks with out-of-control anxiety that's been wreaking havoc with my sleep. It's terrible.
I always get freaked out around mammogram time, too. I think most women with HA probably go through it on a yearly basis. Even though it's terrifying, it's something we NEED to go through with. I always try telling myself it's better to know than to not know. The vast, vast majority of women have no problems. And even if you get a call-back (which I've gotten twice!!! and survived -- both times turned out fine and there wasn't anything there after retakes), the vast, vast majority of those aren't anything serious. And once you get the all-clear, hopefully you can relax some until the next time. I know it's hard. I wish I had a magic answer to make everybody's worry disappear!
I always get freaked out around mammogram time, too. I think most women with HA probably go through it on a yearly basis. Even though it's terrifying, it's something we NEED to go through with. I always try telling myself it's better to know than to not know. The vast, vast majority of women have no problems. And even if you get a call-back (which I've gotten twice!!! and survived -- both times turned out fine and there wasn't anything there after retakes), the vast, vast majority of those aren't anything serious. And once you get the all-clear, hopefully you can relax some until the next time. I know it's hard. I wish I had a magic answer to make everybody's worry disappear!
I understand. No one gets out alive. My mother at went through breast cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, afib, the list goes on and then died in a car crash at the age of 79. I'm trying to work on this paranoia. I am seeking professional help. I watch my father slowly die of copd this past January.
FinneousRex
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The thought process I go by is that no matter how my life is on this earth, as long as I am a good person, I contribute to society and i enjoy life as much as possible, then that’s all you can do. I put myself out for others, and that’s just building me treasure up in heaven. I know I got an amazing time up there when I get there, and that eases my mind. Teaching myself not to be afraid of death
Kadenongers
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Larii
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Cancer isn't as common as everyone thinks, over 50% of cancer patients are above 60, but the majority being senior citizens. It just helps to know the statistics. But even if you hit your 70s and 80s theres still no guarantee that you'll get cancer. My grandfather lived to 84 and no cancer, my grandma is 80 and no cancer. So yeah I just try to remain calm. I'm so sorry you're suffering like this, I understand. Just try to put things into perspective...you actually have a greater chance of dying in a car accident than cancer, believe it or not. The majority of people on this planet won't get cancer
qwerty4
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It's good to be reminded of that Larii, thanks! I have also been very anxious again and reading your post put things in perspective a bit. I think for me it is because I used to google a looot and found so many horror stories about (young) people getting cancer and, like edm writes, people that don't have any symptoms and suddenly find out they have stage 4 cancer. I guess those situations don't happen THAT often, but reading those stories makes you feel they are super common
Lanchparty7
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Thanks...I needed this. Currently having cancer fears again (thanks Coronavirus hysteria) for kicking my health anxiety into full gear again. Just spent the better part of the last hour googling and reading stuff I shouldn’t be.