i feel like i have cancer

[kgk94]

some background info: i've had acute hypochondria episodes since 2011, it comes and goes every few months. as i've now gained experience with it, it doesn't make me anxious, but the thought process still remains. i live with the constant thought that i feel like i have cancer. i have a fear of death which has also started to manifest into obsessing over anti-ageing. i don't ever want to die or be old [i'm 24].

now onto today's issue - i feel like i have leukemia. couple months ago i noticed that i kept getting bruises on my legs. i work in retail about 15hrs a week, and sometimes carry a laptop, so i guess some of the bruises can be explained e.g bumping into tables, laptop hitting my leg etc.. but the others are in suspicious places e.g inner thigh, or back of thigh. also a few months ago my ankle area felt really itchy for about a week. and before that the front of my thighs was also really itchy for some time. i've been trying to rationalize the symptoms, such as the fact that i only ever skinny jeans, the skinnier the better, and only wear high heels. i read that skinny jeans can restrict blood circulation and some people wrote that they got a bruise. some weeks i'd spend 2 days in a row going to school, then to work, so 2 days in a row i'm wearing skinny jeans and heels from around 8:30am to 11:30pm. A week ago I also noticed a purple spot [4-5mm] under the skin on the side of my leg just below the knee. it didn't hurt and went away after a few days. now i noticed a very faint green spot on the side of my thigh. i have a few tiny red dots on my arms, around 30-40 on each arm [only a couple on legs], which i guess i've always had. this morning i woke up with a few tiny itchy spots on my finger. i've always gotten these occasionally, maybe 2 or 3 times a year. about 2yrs ago i coughed up a tiny bit of blood in the morning, thought it was ebola, so spent the next few hours waiting to see if the symptoms will develop. this didn't happen again until a couple of months ago. this time i went to the dr & had a chest x-ray + blood test for anaemia [both normal]. if i had cancer would they have noticed something while testing for anaemia? i haven't made myself cough ever since in case it's still there so idk if it is or isn't. i get heartburn often so that could be the reason. due to my ''i feel like i have cancer'' thought process, every time i feel a bit tired, or get a dull pain, or my appetite decreases, i feel like it's cancer. i guess it doesn't help that work makes me tired as i basically walk around non-stop for 5hrs, and when i'm at home, all i do is stay in bed all day on my laptop. a couple of months ago i felt tired for a few days, which was probably from work and school, and the fact that it was around spring. these days i've noticed my eyes feel tired. probably from being on the laptop all day, but why would it start suddenly when i've been on the laptop for years? also realized i don't drink much water. i keep getting dull aches in underarm area and neck, but no enlarged lymph nodes, as well as dull aches in lungs and just body in general [i've been smoking cigarettes for the last 3 months]. am i just tired from work? and also tired from just being in bed when i'm not at work? i haven't lost nor gained much weight [+/- 1/2kg as some days i don't eat much, and others i might eat more. this morning i woke up naturally after 9hrs of sleep, but my eyes feel slightly tired & keep yawning ever since, it's been 4hrs. it has been quite hot these past 2 weeks. at the moment, i have a small bruise on my thigh [pic.1], the aforementioned faint green spot [pic.2], & there is a space on my thigh and arm which shows no discoloration, but when i press it, it feels bruised. though i think i slightly hit my thigh last night, and may have hit my arm a couple days ago. there's a tiny bruise on my other thigh, with a tiny red scab near it [pic.3], so maybe i injured myself somehow? although the scab isn't in the middle of the bruise so i'm not too convinced. couple weeks ago i had a bruise on the side/back of my thigh which was about 4cmx3cm. also had big bruise on lower leg, possibly from laptop.

i have a dr's appointment in 17 days, though i'm not anxious, the delusional thought process is still disturbing my peace so would be nice to hear some objective thoughts. i just can't tell what counts as delusional and what counts as a symptom e.g. how severe does something have to be in order to be considered a symptom. thanks for reading.

 

[Kaynil]

Hello, @kgk94!

The important thing right now is that you have taken the proper rational action which is to arrange a proper appointment with a doctor that can help you find exactly what is going on.

For now, I guess you could try checking on your diet and see if that changes anything. The tiredness and other symptoms you have experienced could be because your schedule is making harder for you to have a balanced diet and your body is not receiving all the nutrients it needs. For example, not getting enough iron can make you feel lethargic and your bruises could be because you are not getting enough vitamin C. So I'd say that while you wait for the appointment, try to ensure your diet is balanced and make sure you got your greens and fruits near you.

That said, wearing jeans and high heels almost during all day every day sounds pretty though, so definitely it makes sense you are getting itchy or crampy in your legs and your foot plant might feel sore. Pay attention to your skin, keep it hydrated with nice moisturising creams. Keep yourself hydrated too. Other than to log your symptoms for the doctor, try not to dwell in what ifs.

I hope it all goes well.

 

[kgk94]

Hello, @kgk94!

The important thing right now is that you have taken the proper rational action which is to arrange a proper appointment with a doctor that can help you find exactly what is going on.

For now, I guess you could try checking on your diet and see if that changes anything. The tiredness and other symptoms you have experienced could be because your schedule is making harder for you to have a balanced diet and your body is not receiving all the nutrients it needs. For example, not getting enough iron can make you feel lethargic and your bruises could be because you are not getting enough vitamin C. So I'd say that while you wait for the appointment, try to ensure your diet is balanced and make sure you got your greens and fruits near you.

That said, wearing jeans and high heels almost during all day every day sounds pretty though, so definitely it makes sense you are getting itchy or crampy in your legs and your foot plant might feel sore. Pay attention to your skin, keep it hydrated with nice moisturising creams. Keep yourself hydrated too. Other than to log your symptoms for the doctor, try not to dwell in what ifs.

I hope it all goes well.

aah, my diet definitely isn't the best. it says that vit c deficiency also causes red or blue spots and leg pain, but it says it's rare, and i eat salad nearly everyday, although i'm not sure if that compensates for all the crisps and pizza.

thanks!

 

[Kaynil]

No worries. Just make sure you are eating green beans, peas and the such too. They are easily overlooked and still very important.

Vitamin C is usually found in fruits like citrics. Oranges for examples, but other fruit like Strawberries also got them. So if you eat fruit often you very likely will be consuming it.

Something that works for me is frozen veggies. They are snapped and frozen fresh so they don't lose their properties. And they are easy to sneak into anything. In your rice, in your mac'n'cheese, as extra topings.

Anyway, just keep log for your doctor and for yourself. I am sure that if your problems are caused by your diet with a better care of it and drinking water you will feel difference.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Concernedgal]

some background info: i've had acute hypochondria episodes since 2011, it comes and goes every few months. as i've now gained experience with it, it doesn't make me anxious, but the thought process still remains. i live with the constant thought that i feel like i have cancer. i have a fear of death which has also started to manifest into obsessing over anti-ageing. i don't ever want to die or be old [i'm 24].

now onto today's issue - i feel like i have leukemia. couple months ago i noticed that i kept getting bruises on my legs. i work in retail about 15hrs a week, and sometimes carry a laptop, so i guess some of the bruises can be explained e.g bumping into tables, laptop hitting my leg etc.. but the others are in suspicious places e.g inner thigh, or back of thigh. also a few months ago my ankle area felt really itchy for about a week. and before that the front of my thighs was also really itchy for some time. i've been trying to rationalize the symptoms, such as the fact that i only ever skinny jeans, the skinnier the better, and only wear high heels. i read that skinny jeans can restrict blood circulation and some people wrote that they got a bruise. some weeks i'd spend 2 days in a row going to school, then to work, so 2 days in a row i'm wearing skinny jeans and heels from around 8:30am to 11:30pm. A week ago I also noticed a purple spot [4-5mm] under the skin on the side of my leg just below the knee. it didn't hurt and went away after a few days. now i noticed a very faint green spot on the side of my thigh. i have a few tiny red dots on my arms, around 30-40 on each arm [only a couple on legs], which i guess i've always had. this morning i woke up with a few tiny itchy spots on my finger. i've always gotten these occasionally, maybe 2 or 3 times a year. about 2yrs ago i coughed up a tiny bit of blood in the morning, thought it was ebola, so spent the next few hours waiting to see if the symptoms will develop. this didn't happen again until a couple of months ago. this time i went to the dr & had a chest x-ray + blood test for anaemia [both normal]. if i had cancer would they have noticed something while testing for anaemia? i haven't made myself cough ever since in case it's still there so idk if it is or isn't. i get heartburn often so that could be the reason. due to my ''i feel like i have cancer'' thought process, every time i feel a bit tired, or get a dull pain, or my appetite decreases, i feel like it's cancer. i guess it doesn't help that work makes me tired as i basically walk around non-stop for 5hrs, and when i'm at home, all i do is stay in bed all day on my laptop. a couple of months ago i felt tired for a few days, which was probably from work and school, and the fact that it was around spring. these days i've noticed my eyes feel tired. probably from being on the laptop all day, but why would it start suddenly when i've been on the laptop for years? also realized i don't drink much water. i keep getting dull aches in underarm area and neck, but no enlarged lymph nodes, as well as dull aches in lungs and just body in general [i've been smoking cigarettes for the last 3 months]. am i just tired from work? and also tired from just being in bed when i'm not at work? i haven't lost nor gained much weight [+/- 1/2kg as some days i don't eat much, and others i might eat more. this morning i woke up naturally after 9hrs of sleep, but my eyes feel slightly tired & keep yawning ever since, it's been 4hrs. it has been quite hot these past 2 weeks. at the moment, i have a small bruise on my thigh [pic.1], the aforementioned faint green spot [pic.2], & there is a space on my thigh and arm which shows no discoloration, but when i press it, it feels bruised. though i think i slightly hit my thigh last night, and may have hit my arm a couple days ago. there's a tiny bruise on my other thigh, with a tiny red scab near it [pic.3], so maybe i injured myself somehow? although the scab isn't in the middle of the bruise so i'm not too convinced. couple weeks ago i had a bruise on the side/back of my thigh which was about 4cmx3cm. also had big bruise on lower leg, possibly from laptop.

i have a dr's appointment in 17 days, though i'm not anxious, the delusional thought process is still disturbing my peace so would be nice to hear some objective thoughts. i just can't tell what counts as delusional and what counts as a symptom e.g. how severe does something have to be in order to be considered a symptom. thanks for reading.

Go to your regular doctor and ask him or her for a CBC or (complete blood count). This test will test your sodium levels, sugar levels and you wbc (white blood cell count). If the test reveals that the wbc is too high...then there will be means for concern but, if its within normal levels..... then your in the clear.
Let me explain why.
Your wbc increases when something is arye with your body...infection, cancer, etc but, don't be alarmed if it is a little high because worry causes a release of cortisol and cortisol causes inflammatory response and then the inflammatory response force's your body the harbor more wbc because cortisol makes it easier for pathogens to get through...so the oh roughing speak and so your body harbor more wbc to combat that and makes your body work harder to fight infection.
Anyways....
In order for your doctor to have a cancer concern ..your count would have to be crazy high...like in the hundred thousand range and that's when you start tjeohroughohe bruise more and lose your appetite because your body is essentially trying to fight off the cancer with no success.
My wbc is 12000 because of my anxiety disorder and don't be alarmed....your' probably will be too. It comes with the territory.
It doesn't take a high priced examination to detect possible cancer. ....just a simple blood test.
Keep me posted
Let me know how your appointment went.
Ps. Cancer patients will also usually notice swelling of lymph nodes in neck area and under your arm pits.

 

[kgk94]

Go to your regular doctor and ask him or her for a CBC or (complete blood count). This test will test your sodium levels, sugar levels and you wbc (white blood cell count). If the test reveals that the wbc is too high...then there will be means for concern but, if its within normal levels..... then your in the clear.
Let me explain why.
Your wbc increases when something is arye with your body...infection, cancer, etc but, don't be alarmed if it is a little high because worry causes a release of cortisol and cortisol causes inflammatory response and then the inflammatory response force's your body the harbor more wbc because cortisol makes it easier for pathogens to get through...so the oh roughing speak and so your body harbor more wbc to combat that and makes your body work harder to fight infection.
Anyways....
In order for your doctor to have a cancer concern ..your count would have to be crazy high...like in the hundred thousand range and that's when you start tjeohroughohe bruise more and lose your appetite because your body is essentially trying to fight off the cancer with no success.
My wbc is 12000 because of my anxiety disorder and don't be alarmed....your' probably will be too. It comes with the territory.
It doesn't take a high priced examination to detect possible cancer. ....just a simple blood test.
Keep me posted
Let me know how your appointment went.
Ps. Cancer patients will also usually notice swelling of lymph nodes in neck area and under your arm pits.

so theoretically does that mean stress can cause one to bruise easier due to increased cortisol? i just read someone on a forum saying that if it was cancer the bruises wouldn't seem to heal, so i'm telling myself if it was serious it would be far more dramatic. and i guess i haven't really had more than 2 bruises at a time. i just hit my thigh on my laptop so i guess it's all easily explainable, but idk, im just trying to rationalize it. i check my lymph nodes daily and they aren't swollen, i had the dr check the underarm ones when i felt the same dull pain a couple years ago & he said they weren't swollen. so i guess these dull aches aren't from the lymph nodes, as they are neither enlarged, nor painful to the touch, and it comes and goes throughout the day. i think i'm just really aware of the sensations in my body. im slightly concerned that i've been feeling weak at work, though i'm pretty sure that's due to me twisting my ankle over a month ago which still hasn't completely healed, and that i walk around carrying about 10+ items of clothing for 5hrs straight. on top of the fact that when i do have work i don't really eat until midnight [apart from crisps etc.], nor drink much water, although i would drink coffee. i have random days where i might not feel hungry, but once i do eat i'm pretty gluttonous, so i guess my appetite is fine, considering i had a 14'' pizza at once only the other day. i've also now been awake for 13hrs, although my eyes were tired all day have been yawning, i guess if i was fatigued enough for it to be a concern i wouldn't've been able to still be awake.

ew this reply has turned into an extension of my original post of me trying to convince myself that the ''symptoms'' aren't dramatic enough and are easily explainable. like i'm sure i don't have cancer, but not entirely convinced, because as statistically unlikely as it might be, there are only 2 options, either you have cancer or you don't, so really, its 50/50, and we all have to die one day. that and i also generally tend to get slightly delusional about things lol, like why is the uber driver not following the route google maps is showing me? i'm clearly being kidnapped.

thanks for your response.

 

[Concernedgal]

Let' s address the bruises. ...there will be many more than 2 bruises if you had cancer and you tell me that you don't eat much or drink much water...well, dehydration explain most of your symptoms including bruising easily and please eat....Keep your blood sugar levels up. And stay hydrated. ...and you won't bruise so easily and the weakness in your legs or ankles....low blood sugar. Just take care of yourself.

 

[JACKIE]

I can relate to you. Right now i am convinced i have some type of cancer, lupus or MS I recently had chest x-ray, checked blood for anemia and also a full physical along with blood count and lupus check. Everything according to the doctor is fine. the problem is i dont feel fine. I get exhausted very quickly and i keep feeling short of breath and terrible fatigue. Also im suffering from horrible back pain and tense muscles i guess. This post actually made me feel more calm because someone mentioned if you have cancer your wbc would be extremely high and i know my doc checked that and said mine was good. But now i guess im worried i have MS or Lupus. I just want the symptoms to go away.

I also feel pulsing allover my body, my vision seems tired and sometimes i feel like googly eyes lol my legs and arms feel extra tired. I also am afraid to eat sometimes because i have alot of GI issues (IBS TYPE OF ISSUES) Sometimes my appetite is not there but i think its mainly cause of my anxiety that i will feel sick after i eat. My weight has stayed the same even though i been surprised i have not gained any weight because when i eat i dont eat the best. but i guess the no eating is the cause. Well i do want to mention when they tested me for lupus they said my ANA was weakly positive but then he did another test to double check and that was negative. Honestly the tension, the fatigue and my vision is what is driving me insane. I have good days and then i have bad days. I also get a lot of brain fog and sometimes have trouble concentrating. Has anyone had experience with MS? do you think this is what is wrong with me? I have a doc appt. on monday again to discuss my ongoing symptoms

 

[kgk94]

I can relate to you. Right now i am convinced i have some type of cancer, lupus or MS I recently had chest x-ray, checked blood for anemia and also a full physical along with blood count and lupus check. Everything according to the doctor is fine. the problem is i dont feel fine. I get exhausted very quickly and i keep feeling short of breath and terrible fatigue. Also im suffering from horrible back pain and tense muscles i guess. This post actually made me feel more calm because someone mentioned if you have cancer your wbc would be extremely high and i know my doc checked that and said mine was good. But now i guess im worried i have MS or Lupus. I just want the symptoms to go away.

I also feel pulsing allover my body, my vision seems tired and sometimes i feel like googly eyes lol my legs and arms feel extra tired. I also am afraid to eat sometimes because i have alot of GI issues (IBS TYPE OF ISSUES) Sometimes my appetite is not there but i think its mainly cause of my anxiety that i will feel sick after i eat. My weight has stayed the same even though i been surprised i have not gained any weight because when i eat i dont eat the best. but i guess the no eating is the cause. Well i do want to mention when they tested me for lupus they said my ANA was weakly positive but then he did another test to double check and that was negative. Honestly the tension, the fatigue and my vision is what is driving me insane. I have good days and then i have bad days. I also get a lot of brain fog and sometimes have trouble concentrating. Has anyone had experience with MS? do you think this is what is wrong with me? I have a doc appt. on monday again to discuss my ongoing symptoms

i think it’s important to keep in mind that cancer/lupus/ms aren’t the only 3 options. after reading the replies to my post i googled vitamin deficiencies & it seems like those can cause a lot of issues, & yet they’re such simple things to fix. and there’s no guarantee all your symptoms are related to one another, they could have separate causes. or it could all be accumulative, e.g perhaps as you said you don’t eat the best, maybe it’s finally taking its toll; maybe you spend too much time on the computer which has started affecting your eyes; needless to say the anxiety is probably making these symptoms worse or making your perception of them more dramatic; could it be that it was caused by anxiety? even if you didn’t feel anxious prior, perhaps you’re only feeling the physical effects of anxiety rather than the emotional aspects of it? normally i’d feel very anxious when i think i have cancer, but i don’t feel anxious right now, but i haven’t felt like eating these last few days which could be due to subconscious anxiety. evaluate your stress levels & how well you looked after your body before the symptoms. my aunty had pain in her legs to the point where she couldn’t walk, as well as mouth ulcers to the point where she couldn’t eat (at a separate time), had many tests done yet no cause could be found. turns out the stress of going to university was manifesting itself physically. perhaps make a list of all the things you were doing prior that might not have been good for your body e.g being sedentary for extended periods of time, or being on your feet for extended periods of time. i spent 3 days in bed & needless to say it only made my legs feel achy; while walking around at work for 5hrs straight would also make my body feel tired. ms is only 1 of the many things that can cause the same symptoms. you’ve had several tests done so that rules out quite a few things & the scary part of waiting for the results is over.

 

[JACKIE]

Thanks for your reply! i dont feel anxious right now either. I hate googling but i do it and that only makes me think i have something else wrong with me. its just hard to distinguish for me. Is it the anxiety causing this or anxiety a symptom of what could be wrong with me. I just got done reading about fibromyalgia and i am convinced i must have that. All the symptoms point to it. And honestly i feel calm because its not a fatal disease but still scary to have. I do have an appt. with a rheumatologist but not until a month from now ugh...

 

[kgk94]

.. ok i'm back for an update: had my gp appointment earlier today and he said he doesn't see anything worrying, made him check my lymph nodes of course, my iron levels are normal but in the lower levels so i guess that's the cause