Annual Mammogram, Extreme Anxiety

[sel123]

So glad your results were great! I find that it sometimes takes my mind a day or two to actually believe that everything is OK after I've convinced myself that the outcome would be bad. Give it a few days and let your mind catch up!

[BrokenGirl]

It's great news Deb that you got the all clear on your mammogram but I totally understand where you're coming from with the doubts. That's 100% just HA. It will try to twist everything to make you doubt the mammo results and make you think as if you know something about those white calcium dots.
They don't take any chances with these things. If the radiographer thought there was the slightest chance that something was going on here then you'd be sent for more tests. Calcification is very common. I was told a few years ago I had it and completely freaked out when I was told. I had a lovely GP back then and when I talked to her about it she explained everything to me and put my mind at ease and I haven't thought about it since.

You were so worked up and worried before the mammogram that sometimes it's just hard to let go. As the previous poster said, give it a few days. Your mind needs to adjust to the news that you got the all clear. That's all that's happening here. So just ride it out and those HA thoughts will fizzle out over the next few days.

It couldn't have gone any better, just keep telling yourself that xx

[Deb350]

So glad your results were great! I find that it sometimes takes my mind a day or two to actually believe that everything is OK after I've convinced myself that the outcome would be bad. Give it a few days and let your mind catch up!

Thank you. You’re right, I know what you mean, I’ve been building up to this for weeks and it’s going to take a few days for me to take on board that the results are ok.

[Deb350]

It's great news Deb that you got the all clear on your mammogram but I totally understand where you're coming from with the doubts. That's 100% just HA. It will try to twist everything to make you doubt the mammo results and make you think as if you know something about those white calcium dots.
They don't take any chances with these things. If the radiographer thought there was the slightest chance that something was going on here then you'd be sent for more tests. Calcification is very common. I was told a few years ago I had it and completely freaked out when I was told. I had a lovely GP back then and when I talked to her about it she explained everything to me and put my mind at ease and I haven't thought about it since.

You were so worked up and worried before the mammogram that sometimes it's just hard to let go. As the previous poster said, give it a few days. Your mind needs to adjust to the news that you got the all clear. That's all that's happening here. So just ride it out and those HA thoughts will fizzle out over the next few days.

It couldn't have gone any better, just keep telling yourself that xx

Thank you, I totally agree it’s just my HA. In reality I’m incredibly privileged to now be nearly 10 years cancer free since my breast cancer diagnosis. I think sometimes that’s also hard to comprehend when so many people lose their lives to the disease, my friend passed away from breast cancer 2 weeks before my diagnosis.

I’m hoping the news will sink in after a couple of days and then no doubt I will move on to my next worry!!

[pulisa]

It really IS good news, Deb. The best you could possibly receive

[Deb350]

It really IS good news, Deb. The best you could possibly receive

I know, it will sink in! Thank you

[pulisa]

Thank you, I totally agree it’s just my HA. In reality I’m incredibly privileged to now be nearly 10 years cancer free since my breast cancer diagnosis. I think sometimes that’s also hard to comprehend when so many people lose their lives to the disease, my friend passed away from breast cancer 2 weeks before my diagnosis.

I’m hoping the news will sink in after a couple of days and then no doubt I will move on to my next worry!!

Do you think you have a form of "survivor's guilt" as to why you have done so well since your diagnosis whereas others are sadly not so fortunate? You're just waiting for something else to threaten you because you can't possibly have "got away with it" when your poor friend didn't..?

It must be very hard to battle HA thoughts when you have been through so much but the fact is that you are still breast cancer free and it's ok to let that news sink in and then breathe many sighs of relief!

[Deb350]

Do you think you have a form of "survivor's guilt" as to why you have done so well since your diagnosis whereas others are sadly not so fortunate? You're just waiting for something else to threaten you because you can't possibly have "got away with it" when your poor friend didn't..?

It must be very hard to battle HA thoughts when you have been through so much but the fact is that you are still breast cancer free and it's ok to let that news sink in and then breathe many sighs of relief!

I think you’re right about survivors guilt. I was diagnosed with a very aggressive rarer form of breast cancer which had already spread to my lymph nodes. Thankfully my chemo was extremely successful. How I’m still here I don’t know, I should be celebrating everyday but instead I’m waiting for my cancer to return or to develop another cancer.

[pulisa]

It must be incredibly difficult to live with that fear and your situation is very different to those who fear getting cancer..but have never been through the trauma of diagnosis and aggressive treatment. I can't imagine that standard CBT would help you at all. Do any of the cancer charities offer therapy for those living in constant fear of recurrence?

[Deb350]

It must be incredibly difficult to live with that fear and your situation is very different to those who fear getting cancer..but have never been through the trauma of diagnosis and aggressive treatment. I can't imagine that standard CBT would help you at all. Do any of the cancer charities offer therapy for those living in constant fear of recurrence?

I have received counselling from a charity specialising in helping cancer survivors. They were very good but they would only offer a limited number of sessions.