Need Advice

[always worried]

For at least the past 2 years I constantly worry that I have cancer. Example, past 4 months been experiencing lower left abdominal pain when pressed, abdominal pain(not constant), low back pain and urine tests sometimes show trace blood and protein.

I have had Ultrasound of liver, gallbladder, and right kidney. It cameback I have fatty liver. I had an obstruction series done that came back as normal. Chest x-ray normal. I have CT scan of abdomen/pelvis scheduled. Blood work is normal. I am so worried my symptoms are cancer. That is always the first thing that comes to mind. Now I'm worried my CT scan going to show cancer. Is this hypochondria ? I have convinced myself I have cancer.

[vardnas]

Well, let me ask you, do you really think cancer would be present in the body for TWO YEARS and not reveal itself?

I would say, based on what you say in your post, that yes you do have hypochondria. You've had a handful of tests and they've all been normal, yet you're still afraid you have cancer. That's hypochondria by definition, and you sound like 90% of the other posters on here.

Continual testing, continual self-checking (pressing your abdomen), and self-monitoring will only lead you to more fear. You cannot take care of a mental problem through physical means. Have you looked into treating your anxiety at all? Sought out a therapist or considered short-term medication (for example)? It is only through long-term treatment of your anxiety disorder that you'll be able to calm your fears of cancer.

Take a look around the forum if you have not done so already. I know for me, when I first got on, realizing how similar others' experiences and fears were to mine helped convince me that my problems were mental/emotion and not physical in nature.

[mollyfin]

If in the face of overwhelming evidence that you don't have cancer, you're still anxious about the possibility, it does sound like hypochondria, yes. 

[sassparella]

If you worry about a disease that you have no proof you have then yes it's hypochondria. You've had lots of tests and all have been clear, the chances of the CT showing up anything different is remote. But if you suffer with Health anxiety it is very difficult to convince yourself otherwise and very easy to convince yourself that something is wrong even with contrary evidence.