To think if you experience cancer around you it sets off health anxiety?

[hursty900]

Interested if only some are susceptible.. or if it's just natural... of everyone I know, including myself, if they have watched someone close die of cancer they panic at every symptom they get that might be cancer.. never had this before - or is it an age thing? Late 40s.

Breast cancer is very very curable. It's massively resourced and funded.
It's also common - and lumps are just one sign.

Google your nearest MacMillan or Maggies centre and pop in for a chat - you need to get the risk into context

Yes mid peri-meno now so double whammy! I like your way of thinking though and do feel the same, whatever end is in store you can only work on maximising wellness along the way.
I guess my personal experience has been of people with seemingly minor / could be totally innocent symptoms, finding out not only were they cancer, but that it was too late to do anything about it. That's my fear, what if I ignore something that is an early warning sign.
So sorry to all who have lost loved ones to cancer.

I lost my lovely older sister within 3 months of diagnosis a few year ago, she thought it was a simple tummy bug it was terminal stomach canc er. It's made me extra anxious as I have always been a hypochondriac anyway. This was too close to home. I'm also nearly 50 with a very dependent ND girl who needs me so makes me worry even more.

@Tilllly my mum is the same. Even if she's just had a scan that confirms no spread/ growth. Constantly on alert. It must be exhausting & it's so bloody sad. Sending love x

I suppose if it's very close family you might wonder if you're genetically predisposed to the same thing... but otherwise, no, YABU and very self-centred. When I hear of anyone suffering serious illness or injury I count my blessings.

@TheOccupier that's a bit harsh!

Self-centred..? Obviously I don't go round sharing my anxieties with my loved ones dying from cancer 🙄 - that's what mumsnet is for...

My Dad died very brutally and quickly from cancer. I've got a lifelong condition that he passed onto me, and am very prepared for the fact I may get the same cancer as I'm on the same treatment/medication. But my Dad was horribly unlucky because his 3 monthly blood tests all came to a stop during Covid, and hence his cancer went undetected for months before it was apparent that something was dreadfully wrong. I go for my blood tests right on cue, chase the results and just know that I'm doing everything I can to detect it if it happens. And as well, I know the early warning signs which I didn't with Dad. I'm sure as hell not letting it rob me of any sleep at night or take up space in my head

Having lost several fit and healthy close friends in their late thirties and early forties it's made me very blasé to health anxieties. If I notice anything strange or unusual for me I go to the gp but otherwise my attitude is to live life to the fullest as you never know how long you've got left and fretting about dying sounds like a waste of life and one my dead friends would not approve of.

Cancer is a catch all term for a range of diseases, some of which are highly treatable, so the one in two stats doesn't bother me. Hopefully I get a good one if my time comes! Also I read somewhere that about 10% of autopsies have undiagnosed tumours in them, and the death was from other causes. You can be living with these cancers for a long time before you notice any symptoms, if at all. The good news is the diagnostics are improving all the time.

My mum sadly recently died quite quickly & in a traumatic way of a very specific form of bowel cancer.. now I've got health anxiety I never had before and can't stop imagining every ache & pain may be cancer.
I know I need to get counselling really.

I understand. My parent has 3 types of primary cancer. Given the shared genetics I feel like it's inevitable for me too. There's nothing I can actually do about it (live a healthy lifestyle regardless) and I try not to think about it.

Honestly, I don't know, I think it can vary from person to person.

I'm mid fifties and lost my dad to cancer when I was 30 (he was 60) and MIL a few years earlier when she was the age I am now. Both events were obviously extremely sad but neither triggered the severe health anxiety I was to suffer from in more recent years. DH on the other hand had awful health anxiety in his 20s, likely triggered by the death of his mother, but is mostly OK now. We then lost a close friend when we were all early 40s. Again, very sad but I remember thinking how unlucky he was and feeling grateful for my life and health.

However, a few years later I had an actual health scare and googled my way into cancer (which I didn't have) but it caused me to be anxious about health ever since. It got much worse as I entered my 50s and menopause, I think due to the fact that cancer is more likely as you age. I've noticed that doctors seem more concerned the older you are ("because of your age I'll refer you"). Arghhh. Then of course there's all the screening tests you get offered, obviously a good thing. I don't think social media helps and all the awareness campaigns, and of course having Dr Google at your fingertips!

I was at my worst a couple of years ago but after CBT a bit better now. My anxiety isn't just about myself but those close to me, especially my adult son for some reason, I freak if he has the slightest thing wrong.

These days I try to keep busy and enjoy whatever healthy life I have left but it is hard sometimes and easy to drift into a Google rabbit hole if I get triggered by yet another minor symptom or hearing yet another cancer story.

Finally, I think some people are more predisposed to health anxiety than others. My sister is the most chilled person I know and will occasionally nonchalantly mention a health issue or medical appointment for her or one of her family while getting on with her busy, social life. Things that would have me worried sick. However, she's of the attitude of not worrying until there's actually something to worry about which, to date, there hasn't been!

Yes lost loads in my family old and young.
It does make you feel vulnerable and like the grim reaper is following you..

I try and think well they were all heavy smokers without exception so just keep looking after myself.

My health kick coincided with my Dad being diagnosed with prostate cancer and I definitely think it was related. I am now a lot more focused on what I am eating and have dramatically upped my exercise from very little. I think these things do play upon your mind at either a conscious or subconscious level.

This thread has made me cry 😢
My dad died from cancer 😢
His cancer wasn't genetic but a bad one. 😢 He shouldn't have died yet 😢
Breast cancer runs in my family although we don't have 'that' gene.
I don't think about it every day at the minute but it's worrying. I worry even more after my dad.
And yes I hate the stupid cancer things on the Tele telling you the statistics which thanks to that seem to have increased. I don't want to know that thanks.
Always switch off the Stand Up to Cancer things.
So upsetting
My dad was so brave.

Yes, self-centred. It's not all about you. Think first of what you can do to support the person who's actually ill, and second about how lucky you are not to be in their shoes. Don't make your anxiety into the problem.

I think it makes you more aware. DP's family have a known cancer gene and a history of young cancer related deaths so that's always in the back of my mind.

@TheOccupier you have no idea. My every breath is about how I can my mums last years better and happy for her. Your comments are very upsetting.

Exactly this. Me too.

If you are going to get cancer, you are going to get it and I tell you now, it's the absolute dogs bollocks!!!

I'm on my 3rd of the fuckers and I'm pretty fed up. First aged 38, a nice fat tumour in my breast, second, a sly sarcoma in my uterus wall and lastly, a shit load of metastic bc in my lung!

Yeah, total crap.

OP, have you gone through the menopause? Anxiety in general builds up during your 40's. To your question I'd say, no. Everyone knows someone who has conditions that could be terminal/massively impact life.

I'd agree with this.
Anxiety, and loss of confidence about life generally is very much heightened during the menopause for many women.

No, I don't think this is everyone. My father died of pancreatic cancer, then so did his sister. Doesn't look good when family members die of the same cancer. But it hasn't bothered me. Perhaps when I get to the age they were (60s), it will. I'm generally quite an anxious person too so this does surprise me a bit. I'm just in another part of my life - having babies, growing a family - so I suppose it just isn't on my mind. It has been on my elder siblings' minds more I think. I'll see how I feel in 30 years (hope I make it that far😏)

My DS 13 is currently fighting rhabdomyosarcoma. I wouldn't say it has given any of the family health anxiety, but we certainly appreciate every day a lot more now.

I’m sorry for anyone suffering with cancer or health worries. But, surely everyone experiences cancer around them. So is your question - does everyone have health anxiety, as in they feel a bit worried about their health, or as a diagnosable mental health disorder? There’s literally no time in my life I didn’t know someone with cancer. Lung cancer for a grandparent, which killed them, breast cancer for another grandparent, which didn’t. Liver cancer for an uncle, leukaemia for an aunt. A primary school mate died of a brain tumour, another childhood friend of leukaemia, both as children. Both of my parents had cancer by the time I was a teenager, they both died, one quickly and one after years of horrible treatment and operations. Friends have had skin cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer and one currently has stage four lung cancer at 35.

Surely most people know several people who have cancer, or who have died from their cancer. There really isn’t such a thing as someone who hasn’t experienced cancer around them, even the most protected of young children.

I'm sorry you've had such constant experience of cancer close to you, awful. Thing is, until about 10 years ago I genuinely hadn't had it affect anyone I knew well. Then suddenly it's been a lot..& 8/10 has been worse case scenario each time. So for the former I am truly grateful. The latter, I guess is unlucky & has informed my personal heightened awareness of seemingly innocuous symptoms. I do think it's coincided with peri-menopause too which as many PP have said, def increases anxiety. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't rule my life.. most thoughts are fleeting.. but it's certainly cast its shadow. I am most envious of those people who genuinely don't worry about their health in anyway!