Male breast cancer or testicular cancer that has spread? Or is it all in my head???

[Anxiety Jim]

Hi,

For the past couple of months almost, I've been having breast pain, weird in a man I know, but I am over weight. Anyway, my GP examined me and said everything seemed OK. So I was initially reassured, but as many of you know it quite often doesn't last long.

The pain is still there, so my mind had been thinking male breast cancer, for a few weeks, until about 5 days ago when I started getting pain in my testicle, so I stupidly looked up the symptoms of the cancer, and I discovered one of the late stage symptoms is breast pain, because the cancer spreads there quite often...

So with both of those symptoms I keep thinking to myself that I must have one of the cancers, especially being in the high risk age group for the latter.

Am I being silly worrying about male breast cancer? Which is 1 male breast cancer case for every 100 women. And am I being overly worried about testicular cancer which has a 95% cure rate?

[Stormsky]

Hi,
You know Dr Google isn't a friend..
I doubt you have cancer..and I'm sure your extreme Anx is causing you all sorts of aches, pains, tensions. Anx caused me non stop breast,chest pains.
I'm not a doctor, so can't help much more.. You will need to see your gp, it's the only way you'll ease these worries.

[Anxiety Jim]

Thanks,

I've got an appointment with my GP but it's not for 2 weeks yet, and I keep thinking to myself that it will be far too late by then.

Also, I've been reading conflicting reports about the symptoms for testicular cancer, the NHS website says that pain is a symptom, but Dr Christian Jessen says on the embarrassing bodies website "Remember, testicular cancer causes no pain,"

So I'm really confused...

[Stormsky]

2 wks isn't long..it won't be too late.
It goes to show google isn't a great definitive diagnosis !
You have to stop searching, your making yourself worse.

[Anxiety Jim]

I always fall into the trap that I'll find reassurance, which I never do. I've gotten into some really bad habits lately, I'm quite often going onto the cancer research UK, and sifting through the survival statistics... :-(

I think as well as mentioning the pain / ache I'll also re-mention my health anxiety, assuming I get the all clear for from the GP for the first two things.

On the bright side I'm not worrying about MS today.

[Stormsky]

The thing with HA is, you'll get the all clear on one worry, but then you'll find a new illness to worry about..
Are you having therapy to help you with HA ?

[jill]

Hi Jim :D

**Am I being silly**

It only natural to have concerns, please don't be to hard on yourself:hugs:

PLEASE please, don't goggle your symptoms, this will only fuel your anxiety and confuse you even more, what you tend to do when goggling is to find the symptoms that fit yours even if it means missing reading other symptoms out, that you haven't got, like fitting a round peg in a square hole, if you know what I mean. You CANNOT self diagnose, if you know you have health anxiety then Mr Goggle is a NO NO :yesyes:

Right now you have to wait for the appointment, if the testicle pain gets worse you can ask for an emergency appointment at your gp or go the walk in center.

Be king to yourself

TAKE CARE

LOVE JILLXX

[Anxiety Jim]

I've never been offered therapy. I was on citalopram for about 2 years a few years ago, but it didn't help a great deal. I've been given "books on prescription" about anxiety and health anxiety, but they didn't really tell me anything I didn't know before.

[nomorepanic]

Ask for a CBT referral Jim

[Anxiety Jim]

I will ask about CBT, but it's always seemed a bit like hypnotism to me, I'm probably way off though.

I've also just noticed that my 'affected' testicle is quite a lot larger than my other, more than I remember. I'm really really hoping it's my mind playing tricks on me...

[BeckyL]

I'm sure it'll be fine Jim, your GP will most likely confirm to you that it is your anxiety :) the mind does weird things to our bodies! I get CBT at the moment and it does help, but I feel that I will need a lot more sessions of it. Maybe worth you trying it and then if you feel it isn't working, at least you've tried? :)

[nomorepanic]

It is nothing like hypnotism at all. Are you thinking of hypnotherapy?

[Anxiety Jim]

I'm not thinking of hypnotherapy, I've read things about CBT that it changes your thought processes, but to me it's seemed similar to hypnotism, and seems to be suppressing the problem not helping it. I've never been offered CBT from my GP though, so that's probably just my anxiety making me worried about CBT.

Is it free with a GP referral? Because I wouldn't be able to afford to pay for it.

[nomorepanic]

Have a read of this Jim:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/articles/therapy/

Yes you can get it on the NHS but the waiting list is long so get on it asap if you want a referral.

You could also try Robin Hall's free CBT programme that we recommend on here

[anxious_thoughts]

Hello Jim, anxiety can cause SO many symptoms, it's kind of insane!

I really don't think it's anything more than anxiety and over thinking. I know when I think of a symptom I end up getting it, that's just how the mind works.

Just like Nicola said, you should try CBT therapy. I started it two weeks ago for my brain tumour anxiety, and honestly after every session I feel so refreshed. It's good to have a professional to talk to, just having someone who understands. You should try it, don't be afraid. :)

Take care x

[unsure_about_this]

Hi

If you would like CBT I would suggest like everybody else has mention, asked for it a soon as possible. I had a pre-appointment and got told it may takes months before my next appointment could begin.

I know you are very anxiety and I am going through a lot of worries as well. I am also reading the stats on the website for each cancer, even though I don't fully understand these stats, it is scary.

Could you not block these websites on your computer, phone etc. I am currently taking it step by step, I have stopped myself going on daily mail health section, and trying to still stay clear of other newspaper health sites (since I still got the fear of a lot of cancers)

My doctor suggested I may need CBT, but surprising it took 6 GPs at the practise.

[Anxiety Jim]

Thanks everyone, I will ask about CBT, once I've mentioned my health fears that is.

My cancer worries are getting the better of me tonight, my testicular pain is now constant, and has spread out to the centre upwards and left above my leg, so like a triangular shaped area of aching. As well as increased breast pain.

I'm now finding myself "hoping" that I've got testicular cancer that has spread, and not breast cancer, and flipping between that and hoping that I've got a hernia / infection not testicular cancer.

I'm in a bad way right now, convincing myself I won't last until my GP appointment a week thursday. :-(