Terrified I've got pancreatic cancer

[AnxiousAndi]

I was hoping someone might be able to help me as I’m freaking out and worried I have pancreatic cancer. I’m a 35 year old guy from London who doesn’t drink or smoke, but for the past week had discomfort underneath and sometimes behind the ribs on my left hand side.

I’ve also occasionally felt some discomfort further down on the left hand side towards the lower left part of my stomach and when I breath in, it feels ‘full’ on the left hand side. Recently, I’ve also noticed that soon after eating something, I am passing wind and burping a lot more and that my stomach is just gargling like crazy – but always feeling the discomfort in stomach area on left.

I’ve never had anything like this before and I’m worried that it’s something super serious like pancreatic cancer. ☹

[Katie55]

Might be an idea to try an antacid for a week- zantac or nexium. If it helps it could be acid reflux or gastritis. Also could just be a stomach bug.

[paranoid-viking]

Please calm down one moment. Such discomfort is more normal than actually having pancreatic cancer. One important question: do you have a hisotry of acid reflux?

[nomorepanic]

Sounds like it could be anything but cancer to be fair - IBS, acid indigestion, reflux.

See your doctor and get them to try a few medications if necessary.

[escapeartist]

I know how you feel, I got acid reflux for the first time in my life 3 months ago (and have since lost some weight) and have the same worries. Have seen two GPs and a specialist gastro and they really do not seem worries. Have had bloods and nothing strange.

At your age chance of pancreatic cancer is 0,001% (source: cancer research UK). Your chance of suffering from acid reflux at some point in your life is 20-40%. Which will you choose to believe? (i am saying this as much for your benefit as for mine...)

Listen to the people on here, and listen to your rational mind. Try not to feed the demon.

take heart and be well!

[AnxiousAndi]

Please calm down one moment. Such discomfort is more normal than actually having pancreatic cancer. One important question: do you have a hisotry of acid reflux?

Not that I know of. I used to suffer with constipation when I was a teenager, but nothing since.

I've had gas and that before but it's gone in a few hours. This has been pretty much there for a week now - even sometimes moving further up the left side of the ribs - 2/3 ribs up.

Thank you everyone for replying :)

[Worriedwellornot]

Hi Andi
I have been through the whole pancreatic cancer anxiety on a few occasions over the past 5 years but despite my ‘symptoms ‘ and numerous tests it’s only ever been IBS. As soon as I get my results back the symptoms always go away. Take care

[lofwyr]

I have the exact same symptoms you mentioned, with varying degrees of severity, and have had them for at least five years. I am no sicker than I was when they first showed up, certainly no weight loss (darn) and still seem to function well enough. I have to admit, I just quit asking the doctor about it after a while.

If my symptoms were pancreatic cancer, I would have died a while ago.

[jojo2316]

I have the same symptoms and worries as you. Only mine has been going on for longer.....
It’s HIGHLY unlikely to be cancer.

[paranoid-viking]

Not that I know of. I used to suffer with constipation when I was a teenager, but nothing since.

I've had gas and that before but it's gone in a few hours. This has been pretty much there for a week now - even sometimes moving further up the left side of the ribs - 2/3 ribs up.

Thank you everyone for replying :)

Constipation is not a symptom of acid reflux - or maybe; but not the ones that I have strugled with. But pain near the rib is a classical symptom of gastric issues. Also that it moves around.

[AnxiousAndi]

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all having a lovely weekend. I just wanted to give a little update on my symptoms etc.

Over the past few days the bloatedness in the stomach seems to have abated, it’s not as bad although I am still having a fair bit of wind and belching.

What has stuck around though is the discomfort in my left ribs. It doesn’t hurt when I press on them exactly, but is achy and what can only be described as a ‘weak’ feeling, I guess? This morning I woke up because I’d been lying on my left side and was really uncomfortable from being laid on them for example.

It’s mostly in the same place, at the front to the side slightly, but does move further up occasionally around the back and also across the bottom – as if it’s following a line.

It sounds silly writing it down, but could this still be IBS etc. or something more sinister like bone cancer for example?

[AnxiousAndi]

Hi everyone, a week on and I'm still having the same problems.

Today I thought I was doing well. I woke up without any rib pain and decided to try and go to the gym and work out as it usually relaxes me. I came back feeling quite good, but then after an hour I started to feel discomfort in my lower left rib and then started to get stomach ache shortly after eating and heading into town. I felt horrible, discomfort under my ribs, stomach ache in centre of stomach, and around the back, tired and then even started to get the odd pain in the shoulder blades.

I came home early and went to the loo, which seemed to help a little - but I've still got a bit of an ache as I sit on the sofa and the feeling of an empty/nawing in my stomach area.

What's worrying is that my bowel movements haven't really changed. They may have been slightly looser, but there's been no constipation or diarrhoea that goes with IBS. Which is making me worry that's it's something more sinister laying inside.

Sorry to moan on a Saturday night :)

[jojo2316]

So sosososo unlikely to be pancreatic cancer. Always good to get new symptoms checked out by doctor in case it is something that needs treating like, say, an ulcer. Some of the symptoms you describe do sound a bit ulcer-like. Have you been to a doctor about this problem?

[AnxiousAndi]

Not yet. It's really hard to get an appointment around here. The earliest they could fit me in was the first week in November.

I tried to get a hot bath earlier to try and make me relax, but when I laid down in the bath it felt like there was a balloon in my stomach, below my ribs. Not nice.

I hate having health anxiety, why does everything always have to catastrophic diseases?

[nomorepanic]

You need to see a doctor and get answers - we can only guess what it is and we are NOT medically qualified to guess/diagnose.

You have HA and would do well to treat that to be fair.

[AnxiousAndi]

Many thanks for replying :)

On the waiting list to see someone about my HA. Clearly there's a few of us in my area who need some more support like myself :)