Terrified and worried about colon or stomach cancer

[anxious_thoughts]

You’ll be fine, you’re almost there. Get a chore done, go for a walk…it will be here soon then it’s done

Well, I’m done!
I forgot so many things, but I had my Pap test done and even before I mentioned my pelvic floor issues she commented how everything was so tight and tense. She wants me to continue with my pelvic floor therapy.

She didn’t seem too concerned about the GERD symptoms. She said the best thing to do is the lifestyle change that I’m doing and losing weight. She told me to take Pepcid when needed, but nothing else really. I was surprised.

She felt my groin for a hernia and didn’t feel anything. But she wants me to get bloodwork done and an abdominal, groin, and transvaginal ultrasounds. So I’m nervous about that now. But also feeling a bit better.

[Button1]

Sounds straightforward! Ideally we’d never have to face any tests right? But sounds like she’s just trying to help put a name to what you are describing and not at all like she’s worried. Well done for going xx

[NoraB]

GERD is currently kicking my @ss..

Thinking back, I think this bout has been triggered by a few weeks of taking Ibuprofen for an MSK issue back in August... (my insides no likey NSAIDS)

Can literally feel the acid at the back of my mouth and in my throat...

And, if belching was an Olympic sport, it would be gold for me!

Reckon I have enough burps in me to burp out a chorus of Jingle Bells...

Flippin fed up with all tbh. Used to be able to eat and drink anything and everything, but now I only have to side-eye an onion and I'm chugging down the Gaviscon...

[anxious_thoughts]

GERD is currently kicking my @ss..

Thinking back, I think this bout has been triggered by a few weeks of taking Ibuprofen for an MSK issue back in August... (my insides no likey NSAIDS)

Can literally feel the acid at the back of my mouth and in my throat...

And, if belching was an Olympic sport, it would be gold for me!

Reckon I have enough burps in me to burp out a chorus of Jingle Bells...

Flippin fed up with all tbh. Used to be able to eat and drink anything and everything, but now I only have to side-eye an onion and I'm chugging down the Gaviscon...

Oh, Nora. I am so sorry that you're going through such bad symptoms right now. Have you changed your whole diet to bland? I know it's not fun but it does work really well!
I'm similar to you too, I can't eat how I used to and it feels so depressing...
I was doing really well the last two weeks, but last night I out on Blistex lip medex lipbalm, I think I put on way too much as I remember it burning my gums (lol). Anyways, last night I had the sore throat and chest feeling in my sternum, as well as burping. I somehow think it's related to that as I had a bland dinner which I've eaten many times before and never gotten symptoms. So annoying!!

[anxious_thoughts]

Things keep popping up on Facebook and TikTok about colon cancer and I keep thinking it’s a bad sign and means something more. I’m feeling anxious and just want to cry because of the GI symptoms I’m experiencing. :(

[NoraB]

I'm definitely steering clear of my triggers and taking the Gaviscon after meals and at night etc

Re the colon cancer popping up on Facebook and TikTok...

It's most likely a sign that you've been Googling, rather than some kind of omen...

Whatever we search for or engage with on the internet provides us with more of the same...

A couple of possibilities...

1, You Googled colon cancer. (the networks will show you more of what you appear to be interested in - they don't know you have a raging case of health anxiety)

2, Cancer crops up even when we're not actively looking for it. Perhaps one of the celebs we follow posts about it etc. Or, it's a certain cancer awareness week. If we engage with that post then we will start to see more of that type of content.

Does this make sense?

[anxious_thoughts]

I'm definitely steering clear of my triggers and taking the Gaviscon after meals and at night etc

Re the colon cancer popping up on Facebook and TikTok...

It's most likely a sign that you've been Googling, rather than some kind of omen...

Whatever we search for or engage with on the internet provides us with more of the same...

A couple of possibilities...

1, You Googled colon cancer. (the networks will show you more of what you appear to be interested in - they don't know you have a raging case of health anxiety)

2, Cancer crops up even when we're not actively looking for it. Perhaps one of the celebs we follow posts about it etc. Or, it's a certain cancer awareness week. If we engage with that post then we will start to see more of that type of content.

Does this make sense?

Have you spoken to your doctor about your GERD? I spoke with mine on Wednesday but I feel like she didn’t take it seriously. Even though I’ve had symptoms that have been on and off since October.

You’re right. Although, I try not to google my symptoms. I tend to go to ChatGPT. But I did check GERD and gastritis symptoms before and maybe it’s due to that. The algorithm really scares me. I just saw another post about colon cancer right before I came on here. I’m so scared because my dad had it three years ago, and his father did too. But they were both in their 60’s when it happened. Thankfully my dad’s was caught early.

[NoraB]

Have you spoken to your doctor about your GERD? I spoke with mine on Wednesday but I feel like she didn’t take it seriously. Even though I’ve had symptoms that have been on and off since October.

I'm waiting on a Gastro referral appointment (only been 6 months so far, lol)

Although, I try not to google my symptoms. I tend to go to ChatGPT. But I did check GERD and gastritis symptoms before and maybe it’s due to that. The algorithm really scares me. I just saw another post about colon cancer right before I came on here. I’m so scared because my dad had it three years ago, and his father did too. But they were both in their 60’s when it happened. Thankfully my dad’s was caught early.

Just because your dad and grandfather had this cancer doesn't mean you will get it too. (There are other factors to consider such as lifestyle choices etc)

I'm screened regularly for ovarian cancer because my mum had that cancer. (As with your dad's cancer, Mum's was caught early)

Just because my mum had this cancer doesn't mean I will ever develop it, but I'm aware of the symptoms and anything that varies from my 'norm', I do get checked out.

Googling symptoms is adding fuel to the fire with heath anxiety. It's really important that you don't do it. Be reassured that these cancer stories you're seeing are a result of this, not some 'sign' that you have cancer.

[anxious_thoughts]

I'm waiting on a Gastro referral appointment (only been 6 months so far, lol)



Just because your dad and grandfather had this cancer doesn't mean you will get it too. (There are other factors to consider such as lifestyle choices etc)

I'm screened regularly for ovarian cancer because my mum had that cancer. (As with your dad's cancer, Mum's was caught early)

Just because my mum had this cancer doesn't mean I will ever develop it, but I'm aware of the symptoms and anything that varies from my 'norm', I do get checked out.

Googling symptoms is adding fuel to the fire with heath anxiety. It's really important that you don't do it. Be reassured that these cancer stories you're seeing are a result of this, not some 'sign' that you have cancer.

Hopefully you get your gastro appointment soon. How have your symptoms been lately?
My heart burn and burping has calmed down a lot these last few days. I’m happy about this because I’ve been eating a little more “adventurously” so hopefully this means I’m on the mend.

That’s true. They were also both over the age of 60, which means they would probably like to start colonoscopies by 40 (or so that’s what Google says). I’m glad your mother’s cancer was caught early, it’s so important to get checked out. My anxiety makes it so hard for me to do tests, I still haven’t booked the ultrasounds and bloodwork my doctor has requested me to do after I saw her this week.

Yes, Googling is so bad. I’ve been using ChatGPT but I feel so tempted to Google. Lately my symptoms have been mainly pain in my groin area, which my dr felt and couldn’t feel anything. Also a soreness in my lower belly, which I have a big feeling is due to me tensing the muscles down there. Any time I do belly breathing when I feel sore in my lower belly the pain goes away almost instantly. I’m so shocked about this.

[NoraB]

Also a soreness in my lower belly, which I have a big feeling is due to me tensing the muscles down there. Any time I do belly breathing when I feel sore in my lower belly the pain goes away almost instantly. I’m so shocked about this.

I have had a pressure feeling in my lower abdomen which affects the groin. (Can't work out if it's wind or flab, lol)

Re yours, it does sound like muscle tension. (I'm no longer surprised at the problems that muscle tension can cause...)

My ultrasound came back as inconclusive re ovarian because it's so gassey in there. She saw half of my right ovary which looks ok but atrophied (normal for menopause) and she couldn't see the left one at all. I chased up my gastro referral and it is a 22 week wait, which means I've got two more months to wait.

In the meantime, I'm doing what I can in terms of self-help, but that in itself causes me issues with the IBS, such as yesterday when I changed normal milk to almond. (my colon was cramping up at 3am this morning)

I'm drinking hot water as soon as I get up instead of my usual decaf coffee. I don't know if it's helping my guts, but my skin definitely likes it!