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Worried about PC and other cancers

abelljo

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This is probably the 3rd time this is happened to me, where I've had these HA issues. It happened in my late 20s, mid 30s and and now. I'm about to turn 45 this summer. About a year ago. I was in a stressful job and I started experiencing some sort of tightness on the right side of my stomach or really more like belly or belly muscles. A lot of it was so light that I think some of it was imagined. When I had my 30s scare I did experience real pain that I thought was possibly cancer but ended up just being gallstones. Dr Google was the one diagnosing me until I went and got diagnosed by a real DR. Then he also said I had a hiatal hernia. The removed my gallbladder back then.

Now I've experienced pale stools a few times that have gone back to normal, but freaking me out to the point of panic, again google. sudden sharp but not very painful pinch like sensations on all areas of my belly. I've had a quite constant soreness on my left rib side of my torso and a bit towards de back. Feels at about the same area where I got hurt doing squats with weights about 2 yrs ago. But now I'm associating it in my mind with possible pancreas issues. And the new one, last night I started feeling a dull pain in my middle back, right side, and I can feel the dull pain a bit more when I take deep breaths. More when I stand up. Can't feel much when I'm sitting. But again panicking. Everything you search for is PC, long stomach and all sorts of very sinister cancer things. Also less this last year I felt panic attacks about to happen, but I was able to stop it by breathing and calming myself down. This occurred about 3 times. It had never happened to me before. My family has a history of HA and OCD. All this has been going on for a year now and I'm tired of feeling scared, isolated and having these feelings of impending doom. It's debilitating. I hyper focus on every little ache, sensation, muscle spasm on my belly etc. I try to eat well, taking turmeric, exercise and do the best for my body. I'm a male that is soon turning 45 and I know going to the Dr. is important for checkups as I age, but with my HA I avoid it to not hear the dreaded bad news. Any help will be appreciated.
 

ThankfulJen

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Hello! I have had this same exact fear a couple of times now and it started with my gall bladder as well. When I went with my concerns to my doctor he told me that if it were PC I would be having intense pain. I would be very sick with flu like symptoms. My stool would be consistently chalky white. And I would be losing weight at an alarming rate. The soreness very well may be from where you hurt yourself working out. Seems the older we get, the longer old injuries hang around! I am sorry you are going through this. It is awful, I definitely know. But I can almost guarantee you that it is not PC! Hang in there!
 

abelljo

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Forgot the other thig I've recently noticed, or started paying attention to is eye floaters. All adding to my anxiety. This crap is not easy. I feel for all on this forum.
 

ThankfulJen

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Yes, I get to noticing the eye floaters, too. I notice them more when my anxiety and stress levels are high. And so starts the vicious cycle!
 

Iugrad91

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I know someone who had PC and they had a lot more than back pain. Severe weight loss, can’t keep food down. If a pale stool here and there and some back pain meant PC we’d all have it at one point in our lives.
 

abelljo

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I know someone who had PC and they had a lot more than back pain. Severe weight loss, can’t keep food down. If a pale stool here and there and some back pain meant PC we’d all have it at one point in our lives.
I know the whole thing is irrational. But I suppose that's the difference with people who have a healthy outlook regarding health issues and those who have HA issues.
 

Fraser

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The main treatments for HA that have demonstrated effectiveness are CBT therapy and mindful meditation, preferably a combination of both. other anxiety reducing practices, such as regular exercise, can be game changers. Of course, this takes some time and energy and will help you improve over weeks as opposed to immediately. Here's a good place to get started: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety
 

abelljo

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The main treatments for HA that have demonstrated effectiveness are CBT therapy and mindful meditation, preferably a combination of both. other anxiety reducing practices, such as regular exercise, can be game changers. Of course, this takes some time and energy and will help you improve over weeks as opposed to immediately. Here's a good place to get started: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself/Health-Anxiety
I work out daily and since I sit for about 8 hours at the office we all go out and walk during lunch time, which amounts to 2.5 miles when we go around the city block twice. I'll check the link. Thank you
 

bin_tenn

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I work out daily and since I sit for about 8 hours at the office we all go out and walk during lunch time, which amounts to 2.5 miles when we go around the city block twice. I'll check the link. Thank you
That's a great start with the exercise. Couple that with CBT/mindfulness as Fraser pointed out and, over time, you should feel better.
 

VNT89

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Forgot the other thig I've recently noticed, or started paying attention to is eye floaters. All adding to my anxiety. This crap is not easy. I feel for all on this forum.
jeuss I’ve been getting those too! And they make me think the worst, I’ve struggled with a lot of HA issues and got countless tests etc done, thing that makes me panic the most are the floaters :(
Yes, I get to noticing the eye floaters, too. I notice them more when my anxiety and stress levels are high. And so starts the vicious cycle!
Do you get these too then Jen? Jesus I seriously worry all the time about pretty much everything. Hearing your experiences has helped e a lot today tbh
 
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