From The Banks Of The Muddy Missouri

Diesel, as a young nursing student many in my class, including myself, were self-diagnosing every little thing. We would read of diseases and symptoms and if we had ONE, we would check for others.

It is important to pay attention to symptoms and to what your body is telling you BUT ONLY if something is new and different. If your red spots have been checked out and all is OK, if they have been there for years, then all should be well and they are probably just skin irritations or an allergy from soap, fabrics, laundry soap or something like that.

The worse thing you can do is look up symptoms on the internet. If you notice something new happening or have problems that persist for more than a week,then see your doctor. They will know what tests to perform to find out what is wrong. Of course, if you have chest pain, jaw pain or pressure in the chest--go to ER at once.

The biggest problem with checking your own symptoms is not understanding all the reasons you are having one or more symptoms. Symptoms are not always indicative of only one disease. Usually, they are symptomatic of many things and most are very treatable.

My advice as a former nurse---go to the internet to research a DIAGNOSIS only. One the doctor has given you. Do not look up symptoms and try to diagnose yourself or you will scare yourself sick.

You are in good health, I'm sure. Enjoy it.

Edit: First line:
Cyberchondriac, not Cynerchondriacs.

BTW Diesel, why are you so concerned about the big C? Has this always been the big disease you fear more than any other? Just wondering, because I was diagnosed at a young age with sarcoma, ten years ago. I had never really thought that much about ever being diagnosed with cancer. But to those who have recently been diagnosed with cancer or may be diagnosed with cancer in the future, I want to reassure you that a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence. Many cancers today can be successfully managed for long periods of time just like any other chronic disease. In fact, using modern treatment options, cancer is considered more curable than other chronic disease, such as high blood pressure & diabetes. I am an example of cancer survival. I am a ten year survivor of stage 4B sarcoma, surviving 7 years following a liver resection. I am currently cancer free and doing great.

Thanks for the congrats!! =)