Private scan scared of cancer

[Musshkina]

I’m so scared I have stomach cancer. I’m mid 30s. I paid for private ct which doctor has just said is normal but this is the report. AIBU to still be terrified that it could be stomach cancer?

What causes you to think you have stomach cancer?

I’m not a doctor but that hardly screams stomach cancer.

However I will note that every private scan I’ve ever had has had a follow up test / referral / scan. I assume part of it is ‘upselling’. Ive always been insured and they’re never found anything concerning even after 3-4 diagnostic appointments, so I think a follow up recommendation is quite common.

Was it you posting previously about your anxiety and symptoms. If so given you are eating little and have indigestion issues might account for the stomach. However the doctor who ordered the scan should be talking you through its results, potential diagnosis and any follow up tests.

This is 100% the problem with a private scan like this. Almost every single person will have a structural difference from the norm in something or another.
The scan was never going to reassure you.
Im quite certain you now feel compelled to undergo the additional tests

Unless you carry a rare genetic predisposition to stomach cancer the odds are infinitesimal that a female in her 30's will have stomach cancer. What makes you think this? What symptoms are concerning you?

The gold standard to rule out stomach carcinoma would be an endoscopy, but no doctor is going to recommend that without sufficient clinical concerns.

The fact there is nothing obvious in the way of masses in any organ observed in the scan should be reassuring. They have given a possible cause of the unusual area observed in the stomach and recommended that the OGD should be used to further examine that area.

However, if you are already anxious about a possible cancer, it’s unlikely you’ll be completely reassured by the results, and will likely want more tests done to rule out even the vaguest possibility.

Problem is when you become anxious about cancer again are you going to want another scan? And another? There is no reassuring someone with severe health anxiety, they’ll always be on to the next thing.

It may be worth trying Sertraline it works well for HA for a lot of people.

OP, haven't you posted about this before? Lots of posters on that thread gave good advice. You have health anxiety and the chance of you having stomach cancer are very low.

Op If I received that letter I'd be delighted it clearly states no malignancy was found. My dh has health anxiety and I really sympathise.

Yeah I have posted before but I only got these results yesterday. I googled stomach lining thickening causes and the first thing it comes up with is stomach cancer

I mean this kindly, but what you need is professional help to treat your health anxiety. An endless array of tests is not going to benefit you as you will never be convinced that cancer isn't being overlooked.

But there is a cause mentioned in the results - the fact that it's undistended.

That's the more likely cause - especially, I would have thought, given there's no issue with the lymph nodes. But I'm not a doctor.

You need help for your anxiety, not more tests for your GI.

Of course it does! Practically any symptoms you check on Dr. Google will tell mention cancer.

Honestly, I knew that you wouldn't be reassured by the results of your scan, when I read your last few threads.

There was no point having it.

You're convinced you have stomach cancer, although your doctor has told you that you haven't.

You've paid a private doctor to order this scan, and you're still not happy.

@TheShellBeach I know it cost me £600 and loads in petrol too.. is it reassuring though? The wall thickening thing is really scaring me

The wall thickening thing is really scaring me

So you're not reassured by the fact that cancer hasn't been seen.

The thing is with health anxiety is that nothing would convince you that you were ok. You focus on a phrasing or something they didn’t include or become convinced they missed something. You need psych help to overcome the condition.

Are you seeing anyone for your anxiety?

If you read the recommendations, that was exactly what was recommended. But only because one side was slightly thiickened, which, as Dr suggested, was due to position of stomach.

Is this thickening likely to be caused by stomach cancer 😢😢

I think rather than getting yourself tested (and bankrupted) for every conceivable disease, you ask for a psychiatric referral for your HA.

So an actual qualified Doctor has told you it's all normal but you're looking for a bunch of randoms on the internet to do what? Convince you that you do have cancer or you don't? You really need to be spending money on therapy. I am fully aware this sounds cruel but you're sending yourself down a needless rabbit hole without dealing with the real issue.

Look, the report is quite clear. And as others have said, cancer very, very highly unlikely. If you are still concerned, book a private ogd as recommended. However, I doubt even if that comes back as negative, you will not believe it. So, what's the point of asking us; your anxiety is never going to be assuaged by random strangers, most of whom are not medically qualified. In fact, it will only make your HA worse.
As i said previously, you need to get your ha treated rather than looking for imaginary diseases

You’ve been posting about this repeatedly for weeks. You’ve had an upset stomach for literally just a fortnight and you’re convinced you’re dying. Dozens of posters have told you over and over that you don’t have stomach cancer. You have anxiety and you’re giving yourself an upset stomach with stress.

This report just confirms that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. But you’re still insisting it must be cancer. You need to seek help for your anxiety because there’s nothing wrong with you.