Hi Sean, I understand that you want to reassure people that worrying symptoms may not mean cancer. But it is probably the most feared illness and and when a woman (or man) finds a lump or indentation in their breast, or enlarged lymph nodes, has a cough that is not getting better, etc., of course they will wonder if it could be cancer. Panic sets in, as well as not wanting to bother their GP in case it's nothing. So they put out feelers on cancer forums. In most cases, they will go and see their GP, but in the meantime they try to cope by reaching out to others who may have had similar symptoms. I just think people do what they have to do to cope with the fear and anxiety, and connecting with another human being often helps, instead of sitting alone worrying. I hope you are well. Amy

Hi Amy. I appreciate the message.

I can tell you from real first-hand experience that Googling symptoms, convincing oneself that it's cancer and then trawling through forums asking for others to tell you their cancer stories does nothing to help anyone cope with the fear and anxiety.. it just makes it worse.

and none of this is coming from a negative place. This is very much from a 'been there' place.. I know how people with that kind of anxiety are feeling, and I know that falling down the pit of Dr.Google is just misery

Imo, those are valid symptoms. There's a pre diagnosis sub for this very thing on these forums. A lot are obviously just freaking out because they have read something, and not even been to see a doctor.

I have to say, and my partner has also mentioned this, it's kinda bad form when some people jump into established threads of those who have had a diagnosis and seek their answers within. Like what were your symptoms, woe to be you, I hope I ain't you and so on. Those without a diagnosis also jumping into the threads of others proclaiming they don't want to die, they don't want to be the author of the thread they have jumped into with their wild concerns. Not saying they aren't valid worries, but it's obvious a lot of people who pass through these forums would be better served on a mental health forum. People shouldn't be allowed to talk to those who have a diagnosis and say they're scared they're gonna die based on zero diagnosis. It's bordering on crass.

People who are going through treatment or who are newly diagnosed don't want to read that nonsense. They're going through enough without having to reassure some stranger that their symptoms didn't match their own or if they happen to have a certain type of cancer, it's not death. Imagine reading that when you're already dealing with the same thing someone else is freaking out about because they happen to have read something on google.

There's a good reason why other cancer forums don't allow these people to post questions.

Hi all 

I agree with amy321 it's a coping mechanism 

I also have to say google is not the best friend however some niaive people could be saved by google also as this will send them to a doctor to get symptoms looked at which can save lives  this works both ways 

I didn't google before my diagnosis but did after diagnosis and found some things helped 

it's a tricky one 

love to you all love Lara ️

I agree, to an extent. But the mistake a lot of people make, they use Google as a diagnostic tool. Google can't tell anyone what they may or may not have. It's the same lumping symptoms together. Sore back and breast lump, BANG, you now have stage 4 breast cancer before you've even been to the doctor. Google has given those folk a stage 4 story because google can't separate 2 things in one search. The only person that has given those people a stage 4 diagnosis are the very same folk putting this into google. They have unwittingly demanded google throw out that answer.

I mean, before my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had bad back pain, was tired, and worst of all, had had a horrid cough for months that i had pestered her to go see the doctor about well before she found her breast lump. So when it came to the actual cancer diagnosis, I had her dead and buried because of the back pain and horrid cough. I 95% expected the scans to come back and confirm this.

Well, the back pain was mechanical and the cough was allergies. Had i put that all through google, it would have confirmed my fears, not told me it was 3 entirely separate issues going on.

Google is a great tool once you have a diagnosis because it can put you in touch with others in the same position, so a support network and there is also a wealth of information. But Google should never be used as a diagnostic tool because, like my wife, it will never tell you that sore back is mechanical or that cough is allergies. People place too much expectations on Google. Google assumes if you put back pain and breast lump together, you have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Prof 

agreed with all this thread to be honest 

it's a love hate relationship but we can't remove google it's always going to be here so not a lot we can do .

love Lara ️