I have risk factors for cancer and there’s stuff I’ve done in the past that’s killing me. Like now I’m fated. And I’m having symptoms of colon cancer and I feel like the sky is falling.
colon cancer symtpoms mimic a LOT of other harmless issues. everyone has risk factors. i have breast cancer risk factors, i also use to smoke and drink like a fish and my diet was horrible. all you can do it be healthy from today moving forward. If you are concerned, go get the all clear from your Dr, being proactive about your health is never a bad idea.
@TexasOCD41 I want to, but I feel like they won’t take me seriously. I made a GI appointment but it’s not until September and what if it’s spread by then? I also want a mammogram but I’m Too young. I’m just scared. I don’t know if what I’m feeling is real and I want it to go away but it just feels so real
@TexasOCD41 I used to think about having kids or my future but now I’m like it’s risky to even think that way
@itsmehi17 - what are those risk factors you're takling about too? also, what are the symptoms that have you so concerned?
@TexasOCD41 I have drank in the past and I’ve eaten processed foods. I’m concerned because I have constant tension of (tmi) my external anal sphincter like I’m going to poop but I’m not. It’s just there all the time and now there’s some dull pain by my tail bone. I can relax it if I want to but otherwise it’s just tense
@itsmehi17 - ok. im not supposed to do this but I'm going to give you reassurance ONCE. that's tension... colon cancer when it has symptoms, has more than one and the #1 most common symptom is a bleeding event, where you bleed ALOT. my coworkers husband had it( its much more common in men for some reason) and he had bloody stools for months and ignored it. when you hear about stories about people who say they had no symptoms, often times they actually did but they ignored them becuase some blood in the stool is normal on occasion like when your constipated or if you have had a stomach bug. you are probably CAUSING that sensation. similar to the way POCD causes groinal responses, you are afraid of colon cancer, so you have become hyper aware of your rectum and are likely tensing it and probably contracting your muscles either knowingly to test, or subconsciously and its creating pain. the pain in the tailbone area sounds like muscle tension that's pulling your sacrum forward. Anxiety also causes bowel irritability, for some people, its the constant feeling of needing to poo, for others, its needing to pee despite not actually having to do. i was an alcoholic for 8 years, i drank my self STUPID! drinking isn't a risk factor, neither is eating processed foods. those are activities than in theory CAN increase the risk of certain diseases but its typically with extremely high consumption. keep your GI appt in September, be prepared for them to dismiss you. you don't have anything worth serious investigation. if you want to do something that i believe will give you a LOT of relief, get a myriad genetics test. i am adopted so i don't know what my genetics are. i got the test done, i have zero gene mutations that predispose me to any cancers, i do have a moderately high breast cancer risk, so i get mammograms once every 2 years as i have cystic breasts and highly dense breast tissue and i have actually knots all thru my breast that hurt and i can feel during exams, they are harmless but they did make me panic when i first found them. i think you need to 1. get on some anti-anxiety meds and 2, get that genetics test done, know what your ACTUALY risk factors may be, and then live your life.
@TexasOCD41 Thank you for your input, this has really been running my life so I appreciate it. I’m on meds but I need to up the dose it seems. I’m probably just making this all worse on myself by living how I’m currently living: in fear. Thank you for your help!
@itsmehi17 10000% anxiety makes life hard. It’s not good for you lol
Hi, I have been under extreme stress since about March this year, and from that started suffering from very bad health anxiety which has caused panic attacks etc. I’m in the middle of a spiral right now though because I am certain I have stomach cancer. I am 31 and female. Last week I had a very good few days anxiety wise and almost felt like myself. But on Sunday morning I woke up having to rush to the bathroom (TMI sorry) and felt very nauseous. I am emetophobic so this scared me too. Since then I have been having bad stomach cramps, had to rush to the toilet once a day, and some nausea. I have no appetite at all (last week I had a very good appetite but this week I am having to force myself to eat). I am thinking about my symptoms constantly which I think might be making them worse. I have had a bowel screening done which was clear so no blood, and a calprotectin which was very slightly raised at 53, but my GP said she wasn’t concerned about it but would refer me for further testing if I wanted. So I do have more tests booked but not for some months yet. I’m just really scared because of the stomach cramps, nausea, and having to rush to the bathroom once a day for five days now. I have also had bad acid reflux but that only tends to happen when I have taken propranolol. I also have IBS so maybe my anxiety has flared it up but I’m not convinced. I’m just so scared to the point I can’t leave the house and I have been lay in bed for five days thinking about my symptoms and that I could have stomach cancer. I have also been referred for CBT in the near future to help deal with this, but I’m scared that I’m brushing something off as anxiety and giving time for the illness to spread. I just feel constantly scared. I thought I’d had a breakthrough last week but this has just hit me like a tonne of bricks. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this? I just want to feel okay again I am freaking out so bad
31 year old female. I have IBS and POTS for some background. Since Sunday however I am scared I could have stomach cancer. Back in March I had to start taking propranolol for my POTS which caused horrific acid reflux and the feeling of a lump in my throat. I am waiting for new medication but my cardiologist is so bad at getting back to me. Anyway, last week I didn’t take much propranolol (I try to only take them when my POTS is bad) and I had three good days anxiety wise. On Sunday however I woke up at 4am needing to rush to the loo, I felt a bit nauseous which panicked me because I have a big fear of throwing up. Anyway since then I have had stomach discomfort, no appetite, feeling nauseous and some indigestion. It is really scaring me because I came across a TikTok that said symptoms of stomach cancer can be an increased heart rate, acid reflux, stomach discomfort, change in bowel habits etc. I have convinced myself that I don’t have POTS and that my increased heart rate is due to stomach cancer (sometimes I get night time adrenaline dumps which makes my heart rate shoot up). I’m scared that the feeling of a lump in my throat is also connected to stomach cancer, as is the stomach discomfort and bowel changes. I have had a clear bowel cancer screening, and mild inflammation and a faecal calprotectin test that was mildly elevated at 53 (normal levels are below 50). GP said she wasn’t concerned but referred me for further test anyway but that’s not for a few months. Also it’s mostly my stomach I’m concerned about. I can’t stop thinking I am missing something. I have a GP appointment booked but I’m scared I’ve left it too late and whatever is going on with me is growing and spreading and it will be too late. I’m really, really scared. I feel like for the last three months most days I have completely lost myself. But the last five days have been so so bad, I have googled constantly and just feel like I’m never going to feel better because of my stomach. I just really needed to vent. I have been referred for therapy but I can’t help thinking this is not anxiety and is just something I’m brushing off as anxiety. I’m really scared and just don’t know what to do :(
Been off this app for 2 years. Now I’m back with a terrible theme of getting cancer and dying. I can’t sleep, can barely eat, and think about it constantly. I’ve posted on Reddit to alleviate stress, but nothing works. I will die regardless and no one can assure me I won’t get cancer. I just want to stop worrying and feeling so scared all the time. I’m a med student and I want to drop out because I don’t think I can handle seeing people sick and not assuming it’ll happen to me
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