I have awful health anxiety and my current obsession is breast cancer (was lymph nodes!) and am constantly checking for lumps. Inevitably, I will find something and will prod and prod until a lump does come up and the area is red and sore. If I manage to leave it alone, it will go down by itself. Two weeks ago, I felt a slight bump on my left breast and prodded so much that the area became red, swollen and started to bleed. I was actually worried it might become infected, the wound was so bad. It eventually scabbed over and I actually managed to leave it alone for a couple of days and was relieved to find that the lump underneath had almost completely disappeared. Unfortunately, I then felt the need to keep checking it had actually gone, spent most of yesterday prodding, and bought the damn thing back up again! Today is a new day and I’m determined not to touch it again until it has gone (easier said than done!). If it hasn’t gone by next week, I will go to the GP.
Embarrassingly, I was at the GP just two weeks ago, the day after I created this wound, worried about a lump on my right breast which has now completely disappeared. She did a breast exam and said it was normal breast tissue, although she couldn’t check the area on my left breast as too swollen to feel anything and told me off for prodding! I’ve since become worried that my breasts are quite veiny and have lots of what I think are stretchmarks which makes them look lumpy. The GP didn’t remark on this at all and I’ve no idea if it’s been like that for ages as the breast obsession is pretty new. I’m perimenopause so maybe down to that?
I’m getting help for my health anxierty (meds & will hopefully start CBT soon) but interested in hearing people’s experiences on this prodding/checking behaviour and from anyone who has managed to stop it?
Of course, I am also worried that there is something wrong with my breasts despite my GP's reassurance and having a clear mammogram less than 18 months ago.