To be scared I have cancer.

[Stormwhale]

I have found a lump on the underside of my jaw. It doesn't feel like a fatty lump, and it's not a spot. It is stuck to the underneath of the skin, it doesn't move freely under the skin. It is irregularly shaped, not round and not smooth. It is not at all painful, it's not red or anything. I found it about 3 weeks ago and I'm shitting myself. I can't seem to get the guts to go to the doctors.

I'm fucking terrified. I have a 3 year old daughter and I'm so scared that it's something serious. I need to go to the doctors but I'm so scared.

[lougle]

You have lymph nodes in your jaw. It's quite common for the underside of your jaw to be lumpy and bumpy . By all means visit your Dr, but don't worry.

[Chocoholicmonster]

I could of wrote your post OP. Also 26 with anxiety - especially around health related things. Go & have a good time this weekend & I'll be thinking of you Monday. I'm sure it'll be nothing serious but worrying about the unknown will be crippling so its important to get it checked

[Stormwhale]

Thank you very much to everyone who replied. Your posts are really reassuring. Thank you for the permission to have a good time tonight too. We are going to a Halloween scare you shit less night. It looks like it will be a good laugh, which is just what we need. Thanks for the support, it means a lot.

[Bandycake]

Definitely go to the doctors. Like everybody else has said it is probably nothing but you need to get it checked. I would also ask whilst you're there about help with your health anxiety. I also suffer from it and it really is awful. It had started to seriously affect me last year and I've now had CBT and am on regular medication. Both have really helped. Please speak to the GP about this as well

[Pizza4me]

I found what sounds like the exact same thing around 2 months ago. Was worried it was cancer so I went to the doctor who sent me to the dentist who after x ray was still unsure of what it was and fast tracked me dental hospital for further tests. 3 days later after a very through examination by a dentist and a specialist cancer consultant at the hospital I was told there was no chance of it being cancer and that it was probably a blocked duct and I may or may not always have it. It's still there but much smaller now so please don't worry, go to the dentist and be reassured it's probably something very innocent

[Bumplovin]

Not all lumps are harmful I meAnt, but all should be checked out

[Bumplovin]

My dad has an entirely benign lump in his neck which they won't remove even if he wanted as they have said the lump is totally harmless. Not all lumps are harmless it could be something as simple as a cyst. Get it checked out so you know rather than worrying over something that may be nothing xx

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

I had a dodgy mammogram and I had breast cancer.

You also have my permission to go out and have a fab time..

[Thinkingblonde]

You have my permission to go out and have good time tomorrow night.

[Thinkingblonde]

The tests won't give you cancer , but if by some remote chance it is they could save your life. I had a mammogram a year ago, "some changes have been detected, please attend the breast cancer unit". I was scared stiff, Those two weeks between the letter and the date of the follow up appt were the worst of my life. I had more tests, scans and six needle biopsies on the day. The medical staff were fab, reassuring but honest. It could be cancer but if so we will give you the best care. I got a letter a week or so later, it wasn't cancer, the six white dots had been calcium deposits in the breast tissue. I could never have found them on my own, they only show up on a mammogram. I had the non cancerous type but if I'd had the other type I'd have had the best treatment possible

[Stormwhale]

I have got someone coming round tomorrow as well as finally cracking the potty training today. I promise I will go on monday. I have tried with the potty training a few times with dd and it has gone to shit because something has meant we had to go out before she got the hang of it properly. I really owe it to her to give her the best chance this time. She is so excited to be in her big girl knickers. Not a single accident today, both poos and wees in the potty. I'm really proud. I don't want to mess it up for her this time. Honestly I will go on monday.

Also, mine and dps relationship has been a bit rocky of late and we are going out tomorrow night. I don't want to ruin it if it's not good news at the doctors. We need this. It's been a shit storm of a year and we are drifting apart. There is just so much going on at the minute, this is going to have to wait until Monday. I promise I will go on monday though and will update once I have been. Hopefully you can all say I told you so if they tell me it's nothing to worry about.

[BowieFan]

I had this. I'd already had cancer once and was convinced I'd got it again. It was just a lump and I felt so much better for visiting the GP.

[flumpybear]

Go tomorrow .... without fail!!! It's FAR more likely to be bugger all to worry about. You KNOW that deep down and finding that out will be a relief. I have health anxiety and get myself wrapped in knots about stupid things ... I hear abs understand your worries but I can see me in you and HONESTLY think you're making your life a misery for nothing

[HPandBaconSandwiches]

Go tomorrow (if you can get an appointment). Either it'll be nothing important (most likely) in which case you'll sleep better knowing. Or you'll need further investigation and occasionally in some cases every day counts. Put on your big girl pants Storm and get to the doctors, for the sake of your daughter as well as you. Don't put off going because it's not convenient, put your DD in a pull up and take her with you.

[Stormwhale]

Sorry I know none of you can give me the answer. I think I just needed a kick up the bum.

[Lupinlady5]

Could be anything. Go to the doctor! Nobody can tell you what the answer is except for a doctor.

[ShmooBooMoo]

You have no choice! Make an appt. first thing. It may be nothing but if it's sinister the sooner you go and get it checked out the better.

[Stormwhale]

OK. I'll go on monday and report back. It's going to be fine. I'm only 26, it's going to be a cyst or swollen gland or something. I'm going to repeat that to myself like a mantra over the weekend and then I will go. Then I will feel guilty for wasting their time. God I hate living with anxiety.

[Itchyclit]

Doctors. ASAP. You have an obligation as a parent to your kids, as well as to yourself, to get it checked. Please. Get on with doing so.

[SparePantsAndLego]

Ahem, gland not glad!

[mudandmayhem01]

Get it sorted, I had breast lump, the GP was great, reassuring but didn't make any false promises, referral to breast clinic within a week,was scared in the run up to the appointment but after a mammogram and ultrasound it was confirmed as a cyst. The relief on walking out of that clinic was immense but even if it had been bad news I would have been dealing with it quick as possible which I feel I owe my kids.

[SparePantsAndLego]

I had a swollen salivary glad that was v similar, except I fiddled with it so much that it hurt. The worry of something like this is often worse than the reality.

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

It's a cancer support thread

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

It is likely nothing. Strop stressing yourself out and get to the doctor to have it checked. Fretting about it won't make it go away.

[Stormwhale]

Sorry this is a pathetic thread, but you know sometimes it's easier to type what is scaring you shit less instead of saying it aloud. I think I just need a talking to. Just to get the panic under control and get this dealt with. I think even knowing the worst would be better than this fear of the unknown.