“Cancer Anxiety ”
Hi Doctor i hope your doing well. I had a question I wanted to ask you as an oncologist. I am a 28 year old healthy male with no underlying conditions that is constantly fearing will develop cancer. This has literally made me paranoid and cannot stop thinking about it. I have no family history of cancer and I have done my routine medical checks and everything is normal. Can you please give me an advice if I am by any chance in a high risk of developing any form of cancer and how to prevent it. To add, I have quit smoking 2 years ago, eat a healthy diet and exercise more than 2 hours a week. I appreciate your help.
Male | 28 years old
Medications: None
Conditions: None
2 Answers
OncologistOncology
Hi,
Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear about your ongoing concerns on the risk of developing cancer. Congratulations on quitting smoking, which along with healthy diet and exercise and no underlying conditions (co-morbidities), will dramatically decrease any risk of developing lung cancer and other types of neoplasms (another word for cancer). I would suggest to screen for colorectal cancer through colonoscopies (gastroenterologist), which increases when you are in your forties and fifties. Also since you have no family history of cancer, this would also suggest your risk of developing cancer is low. I would also recommend that you have a yearly physical exam.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Dr. Hays
Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear about your ongoing concerns on the risk of developing cancer. Congratulations on quitting smoking, which along with healthy diet and exercise and no underlying conditions (co-morbidities), will dramatically decrease any risk of developing lung cancer and other types of neoplasms (another word for cancer). I would suggest to screen for colorectal cancer through colonoscopies (gastroenterologist), which increases when you are in your forties and fifties. Also since you have no family history of cancer, this would also suggest your risk of developing cancer is low. I would also recommend that you have a yearly physical exam.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Dr. Hays
You are in the lowest risk category possible. If you still are fearful, you might consider that a manifestation of an anxiety disorder that can and should be treated.
