Breast Cancer dream, anxiety, please help!

artisto101

Hello, I really hope I am posting this correctly, it is my first time on this blog. I would really like to apologize for how silly this post may sound, I have been having horrible anxiety for the past month and I figure getting some feedback might help...

A month ago I had a weird dream where I wasn't fully asleep, I got a bad pain on the side of my left breast and rolled over and put my hand on it, as I was feeling it I imagined I felt a lump and breast cancer came into my head, suddenly I woke up. I thought nothing of it until a week later I actually did a report on this woman who discovered her breast cancer through a dream. With all the research iv'e done I have now convinced myself I have breast cancer or it is forming inside me.

I do have some things that could've contributed to this dream:

- I have a lump on my armpit from shaving wrong in the shower, it was close to the area I was feeling in my breast, so I had that in mind as I was touching it

-I was PMSing that night and my breasts were very sore, but I've never woken up because of the pain before...

-the night or two before this I found out my friends mom had breast cancer.

This whole experience has caused me to develop really bad anxiety, I have chest/breast pain from constantly worrying (including soreness in the spot I dreamt of), I am tired all the time and I can't focus on any of my work and I don't know how to stop this!! I even had a breast exam done and my doctor told me I was fine and not to worry.

I don't have any breast cancer risk factor that I can think of, I am only 19 years old and I live a pretty healthy life. The only person in my family who has had breast cancer was my great aunt who died at 40, however I heard her cancer was likely due to hormonal injections to help her have a child since no one else on her side has had it.

Should I be concerned at all about my dream? If I shouldn't be concerned how can I calm down? This whole thing has messed up my head... I appreciate any advice anyone could give me!! Thank you so much for reading.

Meow13

95% of things we worry about never come to be. You saw a doctor go back if you have more symptoms.

Egads007

Artisto - nothing you post here is silly, so no apologies are necessary! This community is based on support whether for anxiety or any other worries, your post and yourself are welcomed! Ok so it looks like you’re working yourself up pretty bad over this. No wonder with all the things that have been going on in your life. Why not talk to your mom or trusted adult in your life about this. Also make an appointment to get checked out. This may help you feel better by getting a medical opinion. Any concern with your body should always be checked out. That said please know the numbers are on your side. While not impossible, the chance of having breast at your age is VERY,VERY slim! make an appointment, you’ll feel better for it. Hang in and keep us posted! Hugs!

MelissaDallas

Go back to your doctor - for your anxiety, not because their is anything wrong with your breasts. Anxiety that interferes with activities of daily living or causes panic attacksneeds treatment.

Sara536

I suggest that you find a “talk" therapist of some sort who will try to help you to analyse the cause of your anxiety. (Maybe even get a second medical opinion first since you don't seem to believe that you don't have anything to worry about) but I doubt that many medical doctors will have the time or even the interest in dealing with anxiety other than to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication. Although you are understandably focused on the possibility of breast cancer right now, your anxiety may have a compleatly different origin that doesn't have anything to do with physical health. Although everyone is welcome here, It may not be the best place for you to hang out where so many do have a diagnosis. Better to enjoy your youth and your good health (and get regular checkups).

Meow13

If this is the only anxiety you feel, maybe the doctor could order a mammogram or ultra sound since you had pain. If the exams came back clear do you think the anxiety would go away?

MelissaDallas

They won't do a mammogram on a nineteen year old. Ultrasound only.

Giselle20

Anxiety is awful, for some reason I too have been having dejavu type dreams where I vividly see myself in the doctors office and my doctor is telling me I have cancer. I actually have a dimple/indent and my doctor said she felt something though.

I also am only 20 and had a family member, my aunt have it at a young age 45. And that never helps also seeing all the stories of young people and little kids who do have it.

Anyways if you go to your doctor they will talk with you about your anxiety and ask the bare minimum like why, any family history that may be linked, are you suicidal, is it the only thing you can focus on all day. Then they may or may not try to give you techniques to try and relax. And might recommend and refer you to a psychologist to talk about the issue and do some cbt to take control of your thoughts.

At least that's how it worked for me.

As for what help with anxiety.

- meditation

- listening to music

- yoga

- exercise in general

- mindfulness and mindful meditation on youtube

- warm baths and showers

- pets, cuddling pets

- chamomile, and kava tea

- talking with friends or family

- writing your thoughts

- watching a movie

- ocupy yourself with something to do

For me personally I love to listen to music because then I get the urge to sing and dance and I forget about the other stuff if even for five ten minutes, I also love to drink tea before bed to chill out and be able to sleep. They say lavender helps relax you too, you can always Google natural things to help with anxiety if you don't want to go straight to medication.

Aside from all the little things I would still go to the doctor and get checked out and ask if maybe you can get ultrasound just to make sure, it doesn't hurt anyone.

djmammo

Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women.

If 32 women dream they are going to have breast cancer in their lifetime, 4 of them will be correct.

mustlovepoodles

If 32 women dream about having cancer AND they are 19 and 20, the chances of them being correct is exceedingly low, less than 1%. I would challenge anyone to find 100 legitimately documented cases of breast cancer in the under 21 age group. Heck, I'd be surprised if you could even find 10!

Ladies, I know you're scared. Dimples, indents, lumps, and rashes are unnerving at any age, which is why you need to have them checked. At your age benign conditions are high in the list of potential diagnoses; breast cancer would be nearly non-existent at 19 and 20.

I wouldn't give dreams too much weight. Dreams are how our minds work to process things. They are rarely truly predictivw. More likely your brain is trying to process your recent pain experience, your concern for your friend's mom, and general anxiety about your health.

Recap

I have had a few incredibly prophetic dreams-enough to make me a believer even though I have always been a cynic. Dreams are not always about the here and now. Your dream might be encouraging you to be proactive in your future about self breast exams.

Here is a website that is fun, but also thought-provoking: http://dreammoods.com/dreamforum/

wrenn

If dreams were prophetic I’d be living in a castle with George Clooney. Same goes for trusting my gut. I guess that’s why you never see eitherwritten up in science journals.

Hope you find a reolution from reliable source. Anxiety is a n8ghtmare and I wouldn’t wish it on worst enemy.

Meow13

I wish I could have more control over what my brain decides what to worry about. The only remedy I have found is time, one day after about 2 months from my diagnosis my brain decided we didn't need to have cancer on the front burner anymore. Anxiety drugs helped but didn't help put cancer out of every thought only time did that.