Why Cancer??: Don't be startled! I don't... - Anxiety Support

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Why Cancer??

Lalakeyss profile image
8 Replies

Don't be startled! I don't have Cancer!🤗 but something that I wonder is why do we always compare or jump to the conclusion that we have a rare (or not so rare) Cancer when we get worried about our Anxiety symptoms?

I notice that we all have that similar one disease that we are worried that we have? I am asking because I too "picked" that disease to worry about when my symptoms first started. There are so many other diseases that people have in life, but Cancer seems to be the token one that us worriers feel that we have when anxiety tricks our minds.

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Lalakeyss profile image
Lalakeyss
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8 Replies
Agora1 profile image
Agora1

Whew, you scared me for a moment Lalakeyss. Since we think big because of our anxiety, our symptoms must always be big. A cold isn't dramatic enough but a rare form of the flu might be. A common arthritic pain is average for most, but Cancer shows people we are really suffering and on and on. We always want to be one step ahead of our doctors. After all, even with their immense amount of training, we feel we may be that one patient that will be different than anything they may have learned in school.

Whatever it ends up being, it's always a way for the anxiety monster to make it more grandeur. That's just who we are. :)

Lalakeyss profile image
Lalakeyss in reply to Agora1

Love this. You made a great point about always second guessing doctors. I've been to the doctor/ER more times than I would like and I still always leave feeling uneasy... thinking "well doctors are humans too, they can make mistakes! What if they missed something and I am that ONE person who he/she misdiagnosed."

Such a vicious cycle🤦🏾‍♀️

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply to Lalakeyss

Told you we all think alike :) xx

b1b1b1 profile image
b1b1b1 in reply to Agora1

What are your thoughts about people who have been misdiagnosed? I had a small bowel obstruction some time ago. The main symptom is severe pain. I want to a local emergency room and was told it was a virus. The next day I saw my intirnistwho also said it was a virus. The next day I went to a major hospital and was admitted right away. Was there for 11 days with major surgery and told intestine could well have ruptured and also there was risk of death from various related causes. I have also had the experience of being misdiagnosed for several minor things in the past. This makes it very difficult to trust doctors, and therefore a visit does not relieve the anxiety. Thanks for reading.

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply to b1b1b1

b1b1b1, It happens and I am very sorry this has happened to you. As far as we have come in medicine, it is still not perfect. Every now and then misdiagnoses comes into view. To some extent, we have to be our own advocates in health care. We know our body better than anyone else and if pain comes to the point of no relief then I feel it is our responsibility to turn this world upside down in order to find an answer.

I have been on the other side of the spectrum with a highly qualified Orthopaedic Surgeon telling me years ago that I had Cancer throughout my body and better find a good Oncologist. The 2 week wait for that appointment was unbearable. I mentally said goodbye to everything in my life that had any meaning. Two weeks later happen to be my birthday when I walked into the Oncologist's office. That year, I was given the best birthday present ever, my life back. It seems that I didn't have cancer, I had Fibromyalgia along with Anxiety.

So sadly it does happen at times. I have always felt that doctors are first men (who are human and can make mistakes) and then they are highly trained physicians.

My best to you. I fully understand your concerns. x

Icanbeathis2016 profile image
Icanbeathis2016 in reply to b1b1b1

I totally understand where you are coming from. Thats why it is very difficult to trust doctors diagnose especially the first few times. So many cases where people have been diagnosed when its way to late and unfortunately cant be healed. Thats the first thing i think about. I feel like we are not irrational in our thoughts when it comes to doctors and hospitals. Quite scary.

Lalakeyss profile image
Lalakeyss in reply to Icanbeathis2016

Totally feel you!

TruthSi72 profile image
TruthSi72

Why we suffer.

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