Breast cancer obsession.. going crazy here

I am so paranoid with breast cancer that I find myself checking my breast and armpits for bumps every hour or more often.. it's becoming insane!
I know I'm young, and I know it's rare for young women... but ever since I heard of that one girl who was 22 and got breast cancer, I'm totally traumatised.. I don't know what to do.
Besides, I have something weird in my right breast, a big bump, but I got it checked, it's not a tumor, nor a ceist (sp??), but.. I forgot the word, but basically it's just the skin tissue that's like that. Doesn't move, or grow, or hurt... but I feel weird about it, even if it isn't anything. A doctor told me I could have it fixed and put smooth if it bothers me, but I don't see why I should spend the money if it isn't dangerous.. but anyways, it makes me feel weird, like I'm paranoid about it causing other cells to grow cancerous or something. I already told a doctor and they told me there was no danger whatsoever, but... I just have this sick obsession with breast cancer, plus I take the pill, and... *sighs*

I wish I could stop being scared.
Thanks for reading, I know it's stupid.

 

calm down
there is a chance that anyone has anything

I had some bump shit like that on my back/shoulder area and it would break open and bleed like crazy, but it's been since removed and that's the end of it

your life is less every second, why waste it worrying?

 

Thanks...
I know I'm being totally paranoid and stupid.. your bump thing sounds much worse than mine though, mine isn't visible at all unless I press my breast, plus it's just skin..
But yeah, I know there's a chance everyone has anything, and that's what worries me so much. But I also feel bad about worrying, like you said it's a waste of time, and probably pointless since I most likely do not have cancer or will never get it...

But I've been feeling this ache in my right breast all of today, I don't know why.. does anybody think that the fact that I check it so much all the time is the reason why it hurts now? Or could it be the fact that I started exercising my arms, and never do it usually... that maybe it's just a muscle pain??

 

could be muscle pain. Could be the fact that you are hyper-aware of your breasts.

My mom just had a lump removed, and my right breast has been aching on and off for a couple months as a result. I think about my mom, which leads to thinking about breast cancer, which makes my tit cringe.

I think you are just thinking about it too much. So, I order you to stop! lol

 

Haha easy to say... but hard to do!! But in a way I'm also getting paranoid about thinking about it so much, cause I heard that cancer is a psychological disease, and the more you think you have it, the more likely it is.. ARGH I have to stop someone help me please!!!!

 

I had something like that, a paranoia about cancer, and I wasted about a year of my life with worring and feeling sick, even though I was perfectly healthy. The moment that healed me, was when I went to live and work in a so called 3rd world country. Then I suddenly felt life in me again, no idea why. Probably because everything was so overwhelming, and I was so much distracted, that I simply didn't have time to think about it.
And maybe becuase I saw suffering people, but with a smile on their face. People without legs, no eyes, not too many, but some.

 

It's true that thinking about such things always makes me feel better - and stupid.. maybe I should have a therapy for being hypocondriac (sp?)

 

I did have therapy as well. It was very relaxing, I talked about whatever I felt like, and i ended up loving the sessions. Maybe you should look into some form of counseling? Mine was from the university I kind of attend, and for free.

 

Yeah there's a counseling center at my college too... I already go for other psychological problems (my hyper-sensitivity and dependance on the feelings of the people around me..), I guess I'll start talking about my cancer phobia as well!

 

Yeah, Hypersensitivity....that was what I went there for in first place. The Lady there said I have to get a thicker skin...hahaha. But it's true. I still think too much and worry too much about too many things. :-(

 

I just wanted to say that I know the feeling. Its hard not to worry about stuff like that.

Just wanted to give you a ((hug)))

 

Aww, thank you YellowBellyHippy, so sweet *hugs back*

Yep... I really worry about too many things too much all the time...

 

Penny, you are NOT being stupid. Breast cancer is very frightening, and sometimes our minds, and our ability to reason with ourselves gets out of wack. You are't doing anything wrong! You are just a bit upset and getting a little obsessive.

Sweetie, if you are thinking about this ALL the time, if it is interfering with your ability to enjoy your life, if you are avoiding normal things in fear of getting the disease, if you are starting to start "rituals" or mind games with yourself to try to protect yourself from this disease, any, or all of these, it is really time to see a specialist, sweetie. Obsessive worry can destroy your life, don't let it happen. It may not be something you have any control of on your own, but with the right help you can overcome it. I hope I am not breaching any boundries, but obsessive fear can be life destroying, worse than the disease you are fearing. YOU have done NOTHING wrong. Depression and or OCD symptoms are not something you can control, cause or even avoid, but you can treat them.

Take care of yourself, honey, and stop blaming yourself. You are not doing anything wrong.

Blessings and health,
Maggie

 

Don't feel bad. I go through phases of paranoia regarding medical concerns as well (I also have OCD and I could go on and on for miles about things I've spent a lot of time obsessing over). My mother is a nurse, so she tends to give me "worst case scenario" information more often than not, which certainly doesn't help. But you know, you can really drive yourself crazy wondering about the "what if's". Just like with myself. Two years ago I almost died following the birth of my twins. I was a very, very healthy young woman, only going on my 25th birthday, not a lick of problems besides understandable discomfort during my pregnancy. I had shown no warning signals of what was to happen, it just did. Which brings me to, you just never know, and you should enjoy the life you have because you never know when your day might come. Young, old, healthy, sick, it doesn't matter. You just never know.

So, although I can admit to phases in my life in which I do worry about what "might happen", I also know that worrying will not solve anything, it will only fill my life with anxiety. Believe me, it's hard to believe that all of the time, because I tend to get obsessed with things, but I have to keep telling myself that worrying will just make me miserable, and I don't want that!

I'm bad about doing exams on my breasts. I never do. My OB always says to me "...and you're doing monthly self exams every single month, right? Say yes doctor!" He's a trip. I know I should be doing the exams, I just don't think about it too often. I wonder if my husband giving me "exams" counts?

{{{HUGS}}}

 

Well I'm a guy and really I don't know much on this subject but all you need to do is calm down about it. You can't just all of a sudden have it. Don't worry and you'll be fine

 

Thanks a lot Maggie and hippychickmommy.. the two of you really made me feel better AND realize that I definitely need to talk to a specialist about it.. because it IS an obsession, honestly I think about it at least once every half-hour, and check my breasts for abnormal stuff and read a lot about cancer symptoms.

Once I had a panic attack and ended up in hospital because I thought I had a tumor in my eye, and it was just a mascara spot. I don't know why cancer is such a phobia.. no one has had it in my family, not even my friends, or friends relatives..

I guess I hear so much about it on TV, in magazines, and all these dramatic soap operas and shit.. Seems like EVERYONE has cancer or will have it they can't escape it!!

Yeah I'm definitely going to seek help... because it is interfering my my ability to enjoy life as much as I could. And it's not only that... I just have a worrying problem in general, it's pretty bad.

But again, thanks so much for the help and support

 

And thank you, too You're sweet

 

no problem what part of NJ you from?

 

i used to get psycho about my breasts too and everytime they hurt I threw a fit, "OHHH IM GETTING BREAST CANCER!!" and I'm serious...
eventually I got past that, learning that my grandmother had breast cancer...and shes alive and healthy today. Yes, she had to have one of her breasts removed, but to me all that matters is that she is alive and well. With technology today breast cancer is one of the most TREATABLE cancers.

My boobs hurt a lot of times for different reasons and I don't whack out about it anymore... are you PMSing? I noticed that a few days before I'm due for my period my boobs will ache like no tomorrow.

The best thing you can do is break your habit of checking for lumps every hour--- after that it may be easier to forget about, to stop worrying about constantly.

Yes, breast cancer is a big issue, but please dont waste your life away worrying about getting it.

And if you go in for an annual check up with your doctor and/or gyno, I'm sure you will stay healthy, and nothing will go unnoticed.

 

Ahh, a hypochondriac ...
Don't take that the wrong way, I just picked up on it immediately because my grandmother and my mother are the same way.

it's amazing I got past being that way with how I was brought up.... I spent most of my time with my grandmother who would freak out everytime I had the sniffles or a cough... "Uh oh she's going to die of an asthma attack!" [and I don't have asthma]

However, though I'm not a hypochondriac... I get panic attacks when I worry too much. I worry mainly about car troubles...LOL... that's my obsession. I will be driving down the freeway worrying that either my tire will blow out and ill crash and hit a semi, or that my engine will explode and start a car fire... etc. So, in different ways, you and I are a lot alike

When I used to worry about health problems, like you do, I would even pass out from worrying so much...I remember one time when I was 10 years old, in health we were discussing scoliosis... For some reason, for WHATEVER reason I thought I had scoliosis and who knows why...but it seemed like the end of the world to me, and I passed out right in the middle of health class.

I adopted my new way of thinking because I received so many comments from boyfriends, friends, etc. about my obsession with possibly getting sick or dying... They were hurtful comments at the time, but they motivated me to stop being such a freak about it. That sounds so lame but it's true.

And the others are right, if you cant help yourself, get help from a professional. I wish you the "breast" of luck!!