Hi all,I'm new to this forum. I'm awaiting results from my core needle biopsy and the fear is almost paralysing. I think I can go through a cancer diagnosis and treatment as long as it is not advanced cancer. My ultrasound and mammogram showed that my lymph nodes look clear, but I can't get the worst case scenario out of my mind. Does anyone know if the cancer can spread to other parts of the body but not the lymph nodes? Like I said in the title, I feel silly for being so fearful when I haven't even got a diagnosis!

We’d all agree with that @Beryl C. It’s just that being stressed may not actually have any impact on developing cancer. Dealing with stress by smoking, drinking, eating poorly, gaining weight and generally being unhealthy may increase your cancer risk. I remember being told when I was pregnant that I should try for a ‘cow-like’ state - no stress, no worry. I didn’t think much of that advice at the time and no person, ever, felt relaxed and comfortable when diagnosed with cancer. Reducing your stress is a sensible and worthwhile aim, but don’t stress over unavoidable stress!

Feeling anxious comes with the territory unfortunately. Don’t make yourself feel worse, we have all been in the same boat. Every year we go through scanxiety as we wait for our results. Try to keep occupied doing anything except google researching as that is never helpful. Deep breaths. I refused to know the stage my cancer was at just in case I felt it too tough to handle. Keep us informed and ask any question you like. Sending big hugs.

Hang on a minute everyone! It is possible the results will come back benign for you MsAnxious. I had an anxious wait back in 2006 when I needed a core biopsy and the results were all clear, it wasn't cancer at that point in time. I wish you well and truly hope that your results are also clear, and not a cancer diagnosis for you.

We've all been there and know how the mind just goes into overdrive. Try to just focus on each day. Don't look up too much yet. Have you been given a time for results? Get out of the house. Go out for coffee. Keep busy.

Hi @MsAnxious I remember very well wondering if I might have cardiac failure waiting for my results, my poor heart was just pounding away minute by minute, day by day, waiting for results. Apart from what the other lovely ladies have suggested, I did 'google' ....but only for relaxation exercises online. I would lie down and do one, and my poor heart would pound away through it and my brain ran ,a million miles an hour. I would do another, and realised I was slowly calming down.I tried to do this every day, usually in the afternoon, as that was my worst time for some reason. The time WILL pass, you will get your results, and you will be ok! You will also get a plan (even better!), which gives you back some control, as you know what is happening.Ask or say anything here, it's a safe place.Wishing you all the best,xx

Feeling afraid and silly at the same time

arpie
Member
6 years ago
FANTASTIC @MsAnxious - your results have just made my Xmas Week!! xxxxx

Have a wonderful Xmas/NewYear with family & friends & an even better 2020 xx
Keeping_positiv
Member
6 years ago
Good news, and such a relief for you MsAnxious.
iserbrown
Member
6 years ago
Pleasing to read
Have a great Christmas
Anne65
Member
6 years ago
@MsAnxious The best Christmas pressie ever! So happy for your wonderful news. Take care xx
Afraser
Member
6 years ago
Now that’s a happy Christmas! Best wishes.
primek
Member
6 years ago
Now that is wonderful news.
kmakm
Member
6 years ago
Hooray! Go with joy @MsAnxious, and in the nicest possible way, I hope we never see you here again! K xox
MsAnxious
Member
6 years ago
Thank you everyone for your kind and encouraging words. It turns out my wonderful surgeon was able to push my results urgently and my lumps are benign. Such a relief! I wish you all the best and hope that you can enjoy some cheers this Christmas.

Regards
MsAnxious
kezmusc
Member
6 years ago
Welcome @MsAnxious,

The waiting for results is torturous. I am currently waiting for yet another set of biopsy results..... tick tock, the time goes slow. Keeping distracted is about the best you can do. Nothing you did, or do now, will change the outcome stress or not.
It's totally and absolutely normal to be anxious and worried.
The fear is real and justifiable and your brain will think up every horrible thing it can for some strange reason.
I have all my fingers and toes crossed for a negative result lovely.
All the best.
xoxoxo
Emma17
Member
6 years ago
@arpie @Anne65 wrote that it is proven that stress fuels cancer, hence my query about quality peer-reviewed studies to support this assertion. I have studied this and quality evidence is lacking.
A new diagnosis is inherently stressful; advising a newly diagnosed person that stress will fuel their cancer is rather bold if one is not an expert in the field. This was not presented as an opinion but as a fact. I ponder how many doctors, be it surgeons, MOs or GPs, would extol this factoid to their newly diagnosed patient.