Lung cancer scared

[Amw311]

Hi all,
I have had health anxiety for as long as I can remember, even as an elementary school child. I am 26 and have twin boys who are 10 months old. I’m always picking them up from the ground, carrying them, always doing some kind of labor because twins are hard work. I’ve tried to put my back pain to this but the location of my back pain is freaking me out. It feels like my upper back but also my lungs. Ive been getting rib pain as well. Upper back pain and rib pain according to google equal lung cancer every time.
I don’t have a cough but of course now as I’m typing this I feel a tickle in my throat like I need to cough.
A couple months ago it was ovarian, a couple weeks ago it was colon, and now I’m absolutely CONVINCED of lung cancer.
I feel like I’m short of breath right now too. Ugh. Any insight? I am losing my mind. I haven’t been to therapy in 3 weeks and I know I need to go back ASAP.

 

[triceps]

Hi Amw311,
I'm sure sorry you're having to go through this. Did you get past the other cancer scares by seeking medical help? Please keep in mind that a single combination of general symptoms does not "equal lung cancer every time". But that's the pattern of health anxiety coupled with internet research. I'm hoping you can get a chest x-ray and believe the results. It's great that you're going to therapy.

 

[Steven]

I’m sure you are fine. At your age lung cancer is super unlikely even if you smoke you aren’t going to have that at 26. I’d just try to remember that it’s in your head and you are fine. You could always see a doc just to put your mind at ease.

 

[Amw311]

I’m sure you are fine. At your age lung cancer is super unlikely even if you smoke you aren’t going to have that at 26. I’d just try to remember that it’s in your head and you are fine. You could always see a doc just to put your mind at ease.

I have never even smoked! but of course I keep seeing the articles that say “more and more people are dying from lung cancer when they haven’t been smokers” and that send me in a spiral. I get myself convinced that I have stage 4 and it’s too late. I’m in a really bad place anxiety wise lately and I can’t seem to shake it

 

[Steven]

Those types of “health” articles are usually total BS. They’re just trying to get you to click on it or buy that magazine but using a scary title like that. Don’t trust them!