Constant fear of breast cancer

Kari, benign breast conditions are extremely common. Over 99% of breast masses are benign and harmless. If you've had multiple tests (and probably have seen several doctors) and all indications are that you have no reason to be concerned that your lump is cancer, you need to move on.

I appreciate how awful anxiety can be. However this is a breast cancer website, where most of us reading and responding actually do either have breast cancer or have conditions making them high risk to develop breast cancer. So perhaps your question would be better placed on a discussion board for those who have health anxiety.

Have you obsessed in this same way about other health problems, worrying that normal harmless conditions, such as skin rashes, headaches, stomach aches, might be something much more serious? If yes, then you have a generalized health anxiety. If no, then perhaps you should examine what exactly scares you so much about the possibility of being diagnosed with breast cancer, as opposed to the zillion other health conditions that you could develop.

If you have an incapacitating fear of breast cancer, being on a discussion board where breast cancer is the only thing being discussed, either by those of us already diagnosed, or by those who come here terrified that they might have breast cancer, is the last place you should be. And I don't think we are the best people to help you address your fear of a developing a disease that most of us actually have.

KariBOregon

"It's gotten to the point of sleeping most of every day and avoiding my kids and husband"

This is already adversely affecting your life and the lives of your loved ones so its time to have your fears addressed.

Call your doctor tomorrow and ask for a referral to someone you can talk to.

You can also click here to Find a therapist near you