Pancreatic Cancer

[LittleMissBananaHammock]

Does anyone have any experience of pancreatic cancer? I have many of the symptoms but am unable to get the doctors to take me seriously. I had a scan that showed small gall stones. My liver blood test results were high but I was told that was probably just that day. I have dreadful back ache. I have loss of appetite, feeling full, nausea and indigestion (have meds that aren’t really helping). I’m also utterly exhausted. More than when my baby didn’t sleep. I’m young. (Early 40’s).
I may be worrying for nothing as I’m not jaundiced or anything.
Obviously I’m not looking for proper medical advice on an Internet forum, but I am looking for other people’s experiences. Thank you.

Are you a serial doctor- botherer? Be honest, do you have a history of turning up with alarming symptoms and it not being anything to worry about. If not then I would go back to your doctor and ask again to see a specialist. Dont take no for an answer.

No I’m not. I had some abdominal problems over a year ago. I had an endoscopy that didn’t show anything. So I left everything as nothing was found. But now I have this awful backache that sometimes wakes me at night.
I really hope I’m not bothering the doctor. I’m not going back for now tbh as nothing has been found, but this back ache isn’t easing with painkillers.

I Would also go back to the GP and ask for referral for further investigations. Tell them you feel they aren’t taking your concerns seriously and that you know what the symptoms are and that they are frequently missed and for this reason, you want more investigations. You should have a CT scan as ultrasound won’t pick up PC so don’t let them humour you with an ultrasound. Can you afford to go private?

I was also going to say can you afford to go private?
If not I’d go to your GP and say you don’t feel like your symptoms are being taken seriously and that you’d like to see a specialist. If they refuse, tell them you’d like a second opinion.
My DM died from cancer after being misdiagnosed. Don’t worry about upsetting doctors - this is your life!

I called a private hospital today. I need to get a referral from my Gp to get a CT scan. So whenever I can manage to get an appointment, I will ask my GP. Prices start at £630 so at least I know a rough costing.

My back pain isn’t easing at all today and I’ve taken both paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Thank you for the replies.

Pancreatic CA is an extremely unlikely diagnosis in a 40 yr old. The classical presentation is painless jaundice. They would have looked at your liver & pancreas doing the scan that diagnosed the gallstones. It sounds like you have symptomatic gallstone disease doesn't it?

Hello. I have your symptoms and have chronic pancreatitis. I think that if you carefully google it you will be rather relieved. I control it with a very low fat diet. Do look.

My Dm has pancreatic cancer. Her main symptoms before diagnosis was losing weight but still a very Large/bloated belly, white floating poos, itching and jaundice. They thought she had gallstones but after many tests found it was pancreatic cancer. She was only 56 and it’s very rare to get it in your 50s let alone 40s. If you really are still worried of course go back to the doctor. Maybe ask to see a different one if you’ve been seeing the same one.

Your symptoms sound like gallstones, rapid weight loss would be a common symptom of pancreatic cancer.

Thank you for replying. I have another appointment come though for 2 weeks time. I will go to that and after that will review.
I will also change my diet to a low fat one and see if that helps.
I feel better for having posted in here.

Mentally better. Not physically. My anxiety has lessened now.

My DM had Pacreatic cancer. She was initially diagnosed at diabetic but she wasn't. Her blood sugar results were a result of the cancer.
Maybe get your sugar tested? Lots of pharmacies offer tests.

Hi @LittleMissBananaHammock,

i know this is a really old thread but did you ever get to the bottom of this?

My symptoms were very dark urine - looked like Guinness and very light coloured poo. I didn't have any pain although I did have constant, very bad heartburn. My GP did a blood test to look at liver enzymes which were very high so he sent me to a&e who then did the relevant scans.