Scared of Stomach cancer

[Emyong]

Great, now I'm paranoid about stomach cancer.

So I made a post a while ago about having fear of colon cancer because of my bowel movements. Since I decided to take action and set an appointment for a colonoscopy to get things checked out(mind you I still havent had the colonoscopy, it begins in August) my fear disappeared completely of colon cancer.....well...until it started to shape into a different fear. My attention as of late has started to shift to my stomach and now I'm thinking of endoscopy appointments 😔 What is even going on?! I havent had any serious unfamiliar pain or super odd sensations like feeling super full after a snack. I know that it's more likely I don't have any form of cancer but deep down in the back of my mind I always say 'but what if' and I should get it checked 'just in case'. I don't really know why I'm like this and its frustrating.

I mean I would rather be safe then sorry but why am I even worried in the first place? I just have this terrible need to get checked for everything 'just to make sure'

[Natsteveo]

Hey @emyong you are so like me especially with the “what if” question I think we are our own worst enemies when it comes to our fears as that is what we have just fears health anxiety is our fears kicking into gear because it’s unknown and we have no control over our feelings so that’s where fight or flight kicks in ??? Health anxiety is difficult to control because it totally controls you and takes over your everyday living because I find with my health anxiety that I ask myself the what ifs and switch to yet another way to panic so basically if I think u have a brain problem I’ll have all the tests and it will come back clear but then I will switch on to another part of my body and concentrate on that and go through it all again it’s absolutely heartbreaking to have

Nat

[MH504]

I’m the same way with “what if” and wanting to be checked just in case. Do you have any symptoms that seem related to stomach cancer or any family history? If not, of course there is always still a chance you could have stomach cancer but maybe talk yourself down by knowing there’s a chance of everything— we don’t walk around worried we will be struck by lightning but the chances might be the same for you. Do you talk to anyone about your worries? I find after I let it out a little, I feel temporarily better and more in tune with what is a realistic vs unrealistic fear.

[Icanbeathis2016 in reply to MH504]

That's definitely a good point and better way to counter our fears for our health. To basically remind ourselves that there's a chance anything can happen not so much only focusing on illnesses happening.