Worried

You would know if it was cancer! It feels way different than breast tissue and you'd also have other symptoms if you had cancer. It's probably a milk duct or lymph node. I have lumps that I thought were cancer before too and it helped me to learn what a real tumor feels like. I asked my OBGYN and she was super helpful.

It makes sense that you're feeling anxious about what you're noticing in your chest. Health worries can be overwhelming, especially when OCD is involved. Remember, your mind may be trying to convince you of the worst, but that doesn't mean it's true. If you’re struggling and need more assistance, remember that help is available. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at NOCD to find out how we can support you. Also here are some helpful resources: https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/constantly-worried-cancer-ocd/ https://www.treatmyocd.com/my-ocd-journey/putting-ocd-in-the-backseat https://www.treatmyocd.com/what-is-ocd/common-fears/fear-of-heart-attack-health-ocd

I’m not a medical professional or therapist, but I’d like to offer some tips: -Did the lump appear suddenly where you know it wasn’t before? -Has it grown or stayed over a period of time? -Can you gauge how long it’s been there or did you just notice it? -Are you sure it isn’t a lymph node that’s gotten inflamed? Depending on its location, this may be what it is. After you’ve checked for the answers, try to remain in a mindset of “maybe/maybe not” with the cancer thoughts if you haven’t found anything that’s definitely concerning. Even then, schedule a doctor’s appointment if needed and try to keep your thoughts ambiguous to deter anxiety and repetitive acts of reassurance. Overall, I recommend to examine the spot and keep an eye on it for a while without triggering intense stress.