Hi folks.
I went to my GP on Monday for bleeding between periods (and other symptoms that I thought were pretty non-specific). I wasn't worried about it until my doctor said my symptoms could be caused by ovarian or cervical cancer and promptly referred me for a transvaginal ultrasound and a blood test. I had the bloods done yesterday and it's hit me now that it could be cancer and my anxiety has just gone completely FERAL. I've not told my family or friends because I don't want to worry anyone - it could turn out to be nothing.
How do I cope with the anxiety while I'm waiting for the blood test results and imaging? I literally can't stop worrying and it's at the point I'm feeling nauseous constantly.
thank you x
Hi treebee and welcome to the group
This waiting time for results is a very difficult time, that’s for sure! We are fearful of the unknown, and what’s next.
My gp didn’t mention cancer to me when I first went to her with symptoms, so I wasn’t concerned to begin with and just thought there would be a less sinister explanation. I’m not sure how helpful it was for your gp to have suggested possible cancer before any tests are carried out.
It can be very hard to get anxiety under control once it takes hold, and I did suffer from this once I was diagnosed. I tried all sorts of things to help with the waiting for scans and results etc-things like deep breathing and mindfulness, distracting myself by binge watching tv series, and trying to simply deal with what I knew at the time. If negative thoughts crept in, I tried to bat them away by concentrating on something else. I listened to free apps on my phone with calming sounds of the ocean before I tried to sleep, and used a pillow mist lavender spray to help.
I hope you don’t have long to wait for your scan and your results to come back, but try to keep thinking that you don’t know anything for sure right now. Once you know what you’re dealing with, you will have something to focus on, and I hope there’s a less serious explanation for your symptoms than a cancer diagnosis.
Please let us know how you get on, and know that there will be support for you here within the community.
Sarah xx
