I'm really scared..

[terriblemother123]

I'm so scared I could have stomach cancer.
I've had a sensitive stomach and bleeding when I go to toilet for years and has piles treated, told I have IBS etc.

A week or so ago I started getting chest and upper abdomen pains. Within a day or so of those starting I lost my appetite completely, I'm now at a point where I can eat toast or a few crackers all day and my stomach feels uncomfortably full.

I've been given lansoprazole by the doctor who thinks it could be my stomach lining being damaged. I've been taking it a week and it's not helped.

I'm 36 with 2 kids. I'm convinced it could be stomach or bowel cancer.. I'm sat on my bed shaking and crying. I'm thinking of going to a&e tonight

Hi, gosh!! I randomly saw your thread.
I'm not a doctor but this sounds concerning yes. Don't leave things. Sending best wishes and strength x

Yes go to A and E if you think it will help.

Oh dear, its horrible to feel so anxious, the only way to know is to have tests done, if you do want to go to the hospital can someone take you and look after your children, wishing you all the best

I can't lie, I'd be bloody worried too.

im avoidant so I'd stay at home quietly worrying. You should see the GP ASAP, but you'll likely to get a faster referral if you go to A&E. now is probably a good time to go between sports injuries &!drunks

best wishes xx

Given the choice, I really wouldn't go to A&E, because it's neither an accident or an emergency so you're not likely to be seen quickly.

I have cancer and had to go to A&E last week with an infection. I was waiting in A&E for 34 hours before they were able to find me a bed. I had no choice but to be there but if I had the choice to go to my GP instead, I would have done.

Perhaps ask to see another GP and ask for a referral on the two week pathway. Don't budge until they refer you and emphasise your symptoms.

Have you had any blood tests or a Fit test?

That’s appalling that you had to
wait 34 hours. I’m so sorry. It’s inhuman.

Agees that op should return to gp with a family member or friend for support and insist on a referral.

@TwigTheWonderKid I'm sorry to hear this 34 hours is ridiculous. My daughter had a seizure on Mother's Day she's only 18 months old, we were told by the call handler it would be quicker to drive ourselves as the ambulance was a 4 hour wait.

You really should go through the process , you'll be sitting waiting behind those who need urgent attention .

@TwigTheWonderKid this symptoms only started last week so I've not had blood tests, I've had blood tests this year for other things and all was ok and I have a calprotectin(?) test which was normal x

When did you last have a poo? Could you be constipated?

I had similar symptoms to yours and it turned out I had coeliac disease. I was also terrified that it was bowel cancer. Get referred for some blood tests and take care.

If you feel really unwell, perhaps go to A&E. If not, try and insist on a GP face to face appointment on Monday and write down all your concerns so you don’t forget. And don’t be afraid to say you are worried about cancer. Are you going to the toilet ok - are you consipated? Sounds like there are a number of things it could be.

Perhaps crohns or ulcerative colitis if bleeding & pain. You will need a colonoscopy to diagnose. & steroids to treat if it is that. Definitely insist on further testing

I would go to a&e, you can't mess around with the symptoms you have.
I have just lost a friend who could have been saved if not for being fobbed off for a very long time. I also offered to take her to a&e but she didn't want to make a fuss.
Sorry to scare you with the first one but to make you feel a bit better I also went to a&e several years ago with similar symptoms, they couldn't find out what was wrong with me but they at least ruled out cancer. It turned out through my own research to be autoimmune problems that I manage now with an autoimmune diet, with vitamins and supplements, but that's just my story.

It really annoys me when GPs "diagnose" irritable bowel syndrome. It's a symptom not a diagnosis, something is causing the IBS and that needs to be addressed.
Quite often it is simply you are eating things your body doesn't want you to have and not eating the things it needs to cure itself.
Good luck OP with whatever you decide to do. Take care x

You need to go back to the gp and ask for it to be followed up.

I was having problems with heartburn and indigestion which was sometimes leading to vomiting.

I saw the GP. I was a bit worried that I was wasting her time but she booked me in for a blood test and stool test.

The results came back fairly quickly and she phoned to recommend an upper endoscopy as a precaution.

The text from the surgery said that I was being put on the 2 week cancer pathway which was scary but it did mean that everything was sorted quickly.

In my case, the upper endoscopy showed that there were no signs of cancer but there were changes to skin cells (can't remember where) due to the acid that I was bringing up.

You need to push for the same kind of treatment that I had. Hopefully, your symptoms will also be down to something equally minor and treatable. Either way, you need to know.

@cariadlet thank you, did you have the trouble with eating and feeling full like I have? What was the treatment for the cells if you don't mind me asking?
I'll book in with another doctor and get a second opinion I think. I mean the doctor I saw did make me feel quite reassured and like he listened and he did say it can take some time to heal.. but then part of me is thinking how can you be so sure without doing tests

I honestly think - unless it’s really bad and you feel you need A&E (then go) - that you are more likely to be waiting there until Monday morning anyway at this point for any attention and it’d be much better to wait in the comfort of your home.

The exception to this might be if you have a decent urgent treatment centre which is in a separate location to an A&E.
Because there’s more minor injuries theirs is often an OOH GP and they may be able to schedule you imaging or do a blood test if they thought it necessary.

But absolutely call your GP on Monday morning for another appointment and if you can’t get in contact the practice manager or just call 111 for an emergency GP or OOH GP. Obviously everything is quite location specific.

@WeShallHaveFogByTeatime thank you, I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. What tests did they do for you in a & e to rule out cancer if you don't mind me asking?

I have started feeling bloated after what I would consider a normal sized meal but not as severe as you.

Eating little and often is helping eg take a packed lunch to work, eat a bit at lunchtime and the rest a couple of hours later.

I've got something called Barrett's oesophagus which I had never heard of. The cells lining the oesophagus have become damaged and are more like the cells in the stomach.

It's caused by the acid in heartburn, acid reflux and vomiting so I need to prevent those with over the counter tablets, changes to my diet, losing weight, more exercise, trying not to eat so close to bedtime and trying to sleep more propped up.

I completely understand the fear as I have a lot of experience with gastro issues and with health anxiety. The main thing I can say in reassurance is that there are A LOT of gastro issues it could be other than cancer, most of which are treatable or manageable, once you know what's going on. Are you still having the bleeding? If its just loss of appetite I'd do GP on Monday morning, but if there are other symptoms like bleeding, vomitting, or pain together with loss of appetite I would go to A&E. I'm not a doctor though so not qualified to give medical advice and you need to go with your instinct really.

It sounds like you need to see a gastroenterologist. If you can afford it you could see one privately for about £300. Or be as insistent as you can with the GP and be very clear about all symptoms.

Please don't worry too much, I convinced myself I had bowel cancer a few years ago - it turned out to be IBS combined with a very rare stomach condition which now doesn't cause me any symptoms so it's just the IBS to manage.

Please see your GP op just to be checked x

@cariadlet thank you for replying. I think I've read about Barrett's oesophagus while googling. I'm hoping it is just something that can be rectified or at least managed with tablets and/or diet changes x

@FernwoodRydal thank you for your reply I've had the bleeding on and off for... maybe 9 years. They've never found much more than severe piles. So I think maybe the bleeding and IBS type symptoms aren't completely connected to this chest/stomach pain and inability to eat much that I've had this week. The symptoms I have match the symptoms of stomach cancer which is what really worries me. The GP was pretty certain that it is likely to be stomach lining damage and said it can take time to heal 🤷🏻‍♀️

@merryandbrightdelight I'm going to either get an out of hours GP appointment in the morning or just try to see my own Gp again asap I think

I had similar symptoms and it turns out I have Crohn's and was having a bad flare. I now know things are bad when I can't face eating and have no appetite.
Get yourself at least back to the gp for a referral to gastro.
Whatever the root cause, you need treatment but hopefully it is something treatable and manageable.