![\"Georgie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260744129-e9a6.jpg\")
\n\t\tMy health anxiety went through the roof in 2018 when my auntie died of breast cancer (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tMy health anxiety went through the roof in 2018 when my auntie died of breast cancer (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n
I was in the middle of an ultrasound when panic completely took over.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
I suddenly blurted out:\u202f\u2018Do I have breast cancer<\/a>?\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The ultrasound technician paused, considered the physical examination I\u2019d had earlier, in which a consultant found a thickening in my breast<\/a> and replied: \u2018I\u2019m sorry Georgie, but there\u2019s a 99% chance that you do.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n As soon as I heard those words,\u202fI shouted for my mum and a nurse ran out to find her. I broke down sobbing and felt like I was going to be sick.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n As someone with health anxiety<\/a> \u2013 a condition where you spend so much time worrying about getting sick that it takes over your life \u2013 it was confirmation of my worst nightmare.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019d always struggled with medical appointments, constantly fearful of what doctors would say. Procedures like smear tests<\/a> terrified me \u2013 I was always expecting the worst results, and had to have someone accompany me to ease my nerves.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n My health anxiety went through the roof in 2018 when my auntie died of breast cancer<\/a>. Over the years that followed, it continued to worsen as other close family members were affected by cancer, including my cousin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t I started to worry about everything \u2013 from choking on my food, to going anywhere new in case I got ill.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019d obsess about all the ways things could go wrong and Googling symptoms<\/a> of deadly illnesses every time I felt the slightest twinge.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n One night, at my local pub with my fianc\u00e9, Jon, I got myself into a complete panic about a pizza we\u2019d eaten. It was really oily, and my tummy didn\u2019t feel right. It became the only thing I could think about, asking Jon what he thought this was a sign of and whether I should book in to see the doctor.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I knew I needed to get some help so I referred myself to the anxiety and mental health team at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital the very\u202fnext day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Just a few months later, I was diagnosed with severe health anxiety aged 27 in 2022. Getting the diagnosis gave me a sense of relief from knowing that there was actually something wrong and I wasn\u2019t just being ridiculous.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Then I\u202fstarted a six-week course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy<\/a>, which helps people with mental health problems challenge their thinking. The sessions really helped and we explored some of the reasons why I had health anxiety \u2013 including how a two-week hospital stay for pneumonia when I was four years old could have contributed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This made a real difference to my mental health. One of the things that helped was writing down my fears and crossing them off when I proved there was nothing to worry about.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t So when I noticed I had an inverted nipple, and some shoulder pain, I tried to stay calm. I reassured myself that I was young and healthy, and that, only if it persisted, would I get a doctor\u2019s appointment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s how, in June 2024, I ended up in front of my GP on my own, which is something I would have never been able to do before.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n So my world turned upside down when, a few weeks later I was told there was a 99% chance of me having breast cancer<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In the three weeks it took to confirm,\u202fI didn\u2019t want to leave the house. I read\u202feverything there was to know about different types of breast cancer. I\u2019d already lost my aunt to the disease \u2013 I thought I was going to die too.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I knew I needed more help so I\u202fdecided to get in touch with the Thirlestaine Breast Centre, who had initially examined me, and who put me straight in touch with a psychiatrist.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t I tried to protect Jon and my family as I didn\u2019t want to worry or upset them but with the psychiatrist, I didn\u2019t have to hold anything back. They helped me see things more clearly and put everything into perspective.\u00a0<\/p>\n I needed their support more than ever when I was told I had stage two lobular breast cancer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Further tests revealed it was more aggressive than thought and had spread to several lymph nodes. I\u2019d need to throw everything at it, including chemotherapy<\/a> and radiotherapy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Within a fortnight, I had to be signed off work due to my mental health and then a few weeks later I had a single mastectomy and nine lymph nodes removed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tFind out more\t\t\t<\/p>\n Georgina Shaw is supporting lobular breast cancer research taking place at the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre at The Institute of Cancer Research, London which is celebrating 25 years of\u00a0life-changing\u00a0discoveries. For more information visit Breast Cancer Now here.<\/a><\/p>\n I also underwent genetic testing, which confirmed that I had a PALB2 gene alteration, which means I\u2019m at greater risk of developing breast cancer. I had been racking my brains as to why I had developed breast cancer and now I had a solid explanation why.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I hated going into hospitals and was once physically sick<\/a> going into one due to my health anxiety.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This was a huge problem because I was now faced with daily appointments and check-ups.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n I had to take a sick bowl with me everywhere. And one consultant even said to me: \u2018I\u2019ve never met anyone who brought a sick bowl to an appointment before.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Eventually, I was prescribed a drug called Sertraline, which helps with anxiety. Alongside this, I found socialising and gentle exercise really helpful too.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t One year later, I\u2019ve now finished active treatment and have gone from dreading medical appointments to feeling a little lost without them.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve recently started a preventative treatment, as I\u2019m at high risk of my breast cancer coming back.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n While the treatment itself helps with some of my anxiety, it\u2019s also incredibly reassuring to know that charities like Breast Cancer Now are researching more effective treatments for lobular breast cancer \u2013 giving hope to people like me and helping to save more lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n My advice to anyone struggling with health anxiety is talk to a health professional \u2013 don\u2019t wait to get help.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019ve needed a lot of help with my mental health and have been to some very dark places over the last year, but having a major disease makes you look at life very differently.\u00a0<\/p>\n I\u2019m now much calmer and able to embrace new experiences without fear \u2013 a world away from the panic I felt during that ultrasound.<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Share your views in the comments below.<\/p>\n \t\t\tComments Arrow Arrow![\"Georgie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260744227-42dc-e1753974205501.jpg\")
\n\t\tI\u2019d obsess about all the ways things could go wrong (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n![\"Georgie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260744132-a481-e1753974250973.jpg\")
\n\t\tI tried to protect my family as I didn\u2019t want to worry or upset them (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n![\"Georgie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260744225-601f.jpg\")
\n\t\tI was told there was a 99% chance of me having breast cancer (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n![\"Georgie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260744136-cb9e-e1753974283190.jpg\")
\n\t\tI had a single mastectomy and nine lymph nodes removed (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n![\"Georgie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/SEI_260744226-f127.jpg\")
\n\t\tMy advice to anyone struggling with health anxiety is talk to a health professional (Picture: Georgina Shaw)<\/p>\n
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