Even I put off seeing my GP about a lump

ABOUT a year ago, I noticed a strange mark on my cheek. It was no bigger than a grain of rice and very faint, yet I worried about it because I have a family history of skin cancer.

I should get that checked out, I thought to myself; I’ll make an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow. Days turned into weeks, but I did nothing.

Every time I looked in the mirror, I’d convince myself it was getting bigger. I must get it checked out. Tomorrow.

Reader, it took me six months before I saw a GP, who immediately referred me to a dermatologist. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing, but why did I wait? If it had been cancer, six months could have been the difference between sitting here writing this and not being here at all. This is a classic example of ‘Fear of Finding Out’. In research published this week, nearly twothirds of people reported they’d consider delaying making a GP appointment for fear of being told they have a serious illness.

Denial is a form of defence mechanism — a strategy the mind uses to cope with difficult situations. Humour is another, allowing us, in an unthreatening way, to talk about things.

But unlike humour, denial doesn’t help us deal with a problem. What surprises me is that despite denial first being identified more than 100 years ago, we’re only just realising its impact on patients delaying treatment.

Given the effect this has on health, it’s something that we should all be more aware of.