Understanding Spotting: Causes, Anxiety & When to Consult a Doctor

Question
Hi, I'm 27 yrs. old.  Over the past year I've been dealing with anxiety/panic/OCD/hypocondriac-have huge fear of cancer (grandmother(my dad's mother) died of Ovarian Cancer).  I drink once a week and ex-smoker.  Haven't really had any anxiety/panic attacks since late-August. I always have my yearly checkup with my OB/GYN every January.  Everything has always come back okay.  I am a little bit overweight. I'm 5'5, weigh currently right now 151. Anyway, I had my tonsils removed last Thursday but I didn't take my birth control pill that Thursday and I think I didn't take it that Friday (can't remember) but I did take it that Saturday.  I've been on Lo-Ovral 28 days for I guess about 4-5 years now.  Yesterday, I started cramping like I was having my period and sure enough I am or I'm spotting.  I was bleeding throughout the day but not really at nite (not enough to wear a pad or use a tampon) and it started again this morning.  In the previous few months I have also spotted here and there brown (looks like dried up blood) blood - not much to really amount to anything.  Is that considered normal or should I be concerned?  I wasn't sure if my body could be getting use to this type or brand of pill.  I'm trying not to freak myself out, since I have this huge fear of cancer.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
When was the first day of your last regular period? If you missed your birth control pills on last Thursday and Friday, it would have been normal to start spotting a few days after that. If those were the only two pills you missed, you should have taken two the next day and two the day after in order to make up for the pills you missed and get back on schedule. You should have continued the pills until the end of the pack and started the new pack at the same time. If you did not take the rest of the pills, just start a new pack on Sunday. The spotting is merely a "breakthrough bleeding" from missing the pills and has no other significance. It does not indicate any disease, cancer, or any other problem. Just keep a record of your bleeding and start the new pack at the right time. Good Luck. Don't worry.