ScarletSpeedster
08-11-15, 22:03
Hello. I am a twenty year old woman who is living in the constant fear of my health anxieties.
I wrote a post two days ago about my latest fear of breast cancer, and it has now returned with a vengeance and is ruining me right now.
I went to my local GP surgery a week ago for a breast examination, as I felt my left breast was bigger and harder with an almost constant feeling of very, very mild tightness or pressure - nothing which interferes with life at all, just noticeable and there. Well, the nurse practitioner examined my breasts, and confirmed that she also felt that my left breast was slightly bigger and harder than the right, although she could feel no lumps, said they looked the same (besides the size), and my lymph nodes were fine. She then said she'd see if she had to refer me to a breast clinic...and my panic ensued there and then.
She left to consult the doctor, and upon her leaving the room, I had a tota meltdown, immediately thinking the worst.
She came back in a prescribed me paracetamol for the niggling pain/feeling, and told me to come back in two weeks after my next period to see if there was any change that might be hormone related. I left. Broke down.
My mum later called the surgery to speak to the nurse, as I was in such a bad way with my anxiety and she was worried. The nurse said that if she'd found anything concerning, the doctor and she would have referred me that day and not decided to wait two weeks. She also said everything felt (besides the harder breast) and looked fine, and that because I had no history of breast cancer in the family, I should try not to worry too much. It was a very ordinary routine for women to come back after their next period of another examination.
The thing is, I am still petrified. I even called my assigned doctor yesterday because I wanted an ultrasound as soon as possible just to get it out of the way. He talked me through my symptoms, telling me that at my age I should not be worrying any great deal about cancer, and that I really showed no signs to warrant that worry. He was great at dealing with my worries, and I felt a bit better.
But now I am scared again, and it is so silly. I am twenty, and should be loving life, yet I am living it constantly scared stiff I am dying from an illness.
Please, any replies would be appreciated.
I wrote a post two days ago about my latest fear of breast cancer, and it has now returned with a vengeance and is ruining me right now.
I went to my local GP surgery a week ago for a breast examination, as I felt my left breast was bigger and harder with an almost constant feeling of very, very mild tightness or pressure - nothing which interferes with life at all, just noticeable and there. Well, the nurse practitioner examined my breasts, and confirmed that she also felt that my left breast was slightly bigger and harder than the right, although she could feel no lumps, said they looked the same (besides the size), and my lymph nodes were fine. She then said she'd see if she had to refer me to a breast clinic...and my panic ensued there and then.
She left to consult the doctor, and upon her leaving the room, I had a tota meltdown, immediately thinking the worst.
She came back in a prescribed me paracetamol for the niggling pain/feeling, and told me to come back in two weeks after my next period to see if there was any change that might be hormone related. I left. Broke down.
My mum later called the surgery to speak to the nurse, as I was in such a bad way with my anxiety and she was worried. The nurse said that if she'd found anything concerning, the doctor and she would have referred me that day and not decided to wait two weeks. She also said everything felt (besides the harder breast) and looked fine, and that because I had no history of breast cancer in the family, I should try not to worry too much. It was a very ordinary routine for women to come back after their next period of another examination.
The thing is, I am still petrified. I even called my assigned doctor yesterday because I wanted an ultrasound as soon as possible just to get it out of the way. He talked me through my symptoms, telling me that at my age I should not be worrying any great deal about cancer, and that I really showed no signs to warrant that worry. He was great at dealing with my worries, and I felt a bit better.
But now I am scared again, and it is so silly. I am twenty, and should be loving life, yet I am living it constantly scared stiff I am dying from an illness.
Please, any replies would be appreciated.