Pancreatic cancer

[Shinyshiny2]

I am terrified that I have pancreatic cancer. A month ago I was really stressed and got an awful burning stomach ache. It lasted a day then disappeared. A week and a half later I got a wierd aching burning stomach at the top of my abdomen that persisted. Then I got a cold but was still having a slightly painful stomach. The stomach ache then died down but then I started having pain in both flanks, almost like a constant stitch, under my ribs. It began in my left side then swapped to my right. I went to the doctors on Wednesday who did blood tests which all came back clear and I’m waiting on an abdominal ultrasound as they want to check for gallstones. When I went the pain was in my right side. Since then the pain has moved back to my left side and into my shoulder blade on and off. I keep getting a burning ache in my stomach on and off. I am 34 years old with two young children and I am absolutely petrified. I also just read an article about intermittent pain being an early sign of PC and am in such a state! I am a very anxious person but so scared. The burning stomach is not there today but I did get a stitch in my right side when out this morning that’s gone but do keep getting random stabs there. Left side pain completely gone but shoulder blade aches. Shall I book a private scan? I can’t concentrate or feel happy as i‘m so scared.

Hi, the most common presentation of pancreatic cancer is painless jaundice. Rarely pain.
It is very very unlikely to be that.

I would recommend CBT for health anxiety though. That can be debilitating.

Ok even though it’s been going on a month? I have been referred for an upper abdominal scan but not for 8 weeks.

Anxiety can absolutely cause things to worsen. Especially gastro issues. It’s easier said than done, but try 5-10 mins meditation video a day.

You'd have abnormal lfts and fbc if you had pancreatic cancer

With love, I think MN should remove this thread now.

Evertime someone comes in with helpful suggestions of what medical issue it may be we're sending OP down a new rabbit hole and as some experts in here have mentioned - reassurance about the health condition in this case probably isn't helping, and her focus should be on reducing anxiety, which this thread isn't doing.

You'd be losing tons of weight if it was

Agreed.

I have gallstones, reflux … and a whole host of other digestive complaints.
The stuff you have written sounds like a lot of the symptoms I have. Pain under ribs / into back and shoulder (gallstones / Acute cholecystitis)
Burning in chest, short of breath (reflux)
Stomach Ache (caused by any number of things .. too cold drinks, too spicy food, too long between meals)

I find my Omeprazole helps … and I’m never far away from a bottle of Gaviscon

You need to get a handle on your health anxiety. You don't have pancreatic cancer.

People have offered their own heartbreaking experiences with pc, and you are ignoring them and spiraling.

If if was PC then your anxiety won't change a thing, and since it clearly is not you need to calm down.

I hope you get help for your anxiety.

OP less than 10 women per year between 30 and 34 are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. If we assumed that diagnoses were spread evenly across those age ranges, it could be less than two 34 year olds. You are highly, highly unlikely to have pancreatic cancer.

You’ve had normal blood tests that is probably why you are not being prioritised. I currently have many of the same symptoms as you. The top of my stomach aches and burns sometimes because I have a hiatus hernia (as did my DDad who was fit and healthy into his 80s). My lower abdomen and legs ache because I sit at a desk all day and my posture is a bit rubbish.

Look up costochondritis. Also check the exercises that help you to open your chest. Anxiety does materialise in the way you describe and so dies costochondritis but I found while waiting for my gallbladder scan that the exercises really helped.

Most people die of pancreatic cancer within weeks of diagnosis so if they thought there was any chance you had pancreatic cancer they wouldn't make you wait 8 weeks for a scan!

My gran died 12 weeks after diagnosis. She turned the colour of Homer Simpson and her blood test confirmed the cancer.

Seriously. You do NOT have pancreatic cancer. You have a really bad case of hypochondria and could do with some sort of psychiatric support.

Please don't waste NHS time demanding unnecessary appointments. It's not fair on those who genuinely need them.

If you genuinely believe the NHS are wrong then pay for private health care as they will see you straight away.

Stop googling symptoms. Dr Google is not your friend and it is WAY more likely that your stomach issues are a symptom of your existing health anxiety than it is to be something separate such as you fear.

If there is a problem the scans you are having will find it. You have to make an active choice towards better mental health. Conquering your health anxiety isn't something the doctors can do for you, it will take your active cooperation and you are currently doing the opposite.

Oh OP I'm sorry you're going through this. One thing I would absolutely say is that it's crazy the range of physical symptoms anxiety can cause. Handhold. I'd bet my bottom dollar this isn't pancreatic cancer but I sympathise so much with the fear you're feeling.

"Have you tried just not being anxious?"

FFS some horrible people on this thread. If someone is spiralling they don't WANT to spiral but very hard for them to stop on the basis of a couple of people saying so on MN. OP is having the investigations and just "calming down" isn't as bloody easy as you seem to think.

Hi @Shinyshiny2 how are you getting on, have you had your scan yet? I followed your post from the beginning as I too have been having similar pain. Ultrasound and gastroscopy fine but I'm still worrying constantly as still no answers !

@Shinyshiny2 @Lulabella22 Did you ever get to the bottom of your issues?

Was there any cause found for you OP?

I hsve gallstones and keep getting transferred pain under left ribs and also in shoulder blades. Also like a tight band that runs along bottom of my ribs of pain.

I was also dangerously anaemic (which they sorted) but had every test ct scan, cameras top and bottom and ultrasound as they wanted to find any potential bleeding. Just gallstones / transferred pain.

Absolutely. And anxiety can affect stomach acid. It’s real pain but need not come from a serious illness. As PP said, pancreatic cancer is typically almost symptomless until a late stage, and if you were at a late stage you would have other serious symptoms.

Just realised this is an old thread. How are you OP?