possible Pancreatic cancer

My illness started on the 6th April although I had felt gassy, and had some brown floaty poops since end of January. The 6th April I developed severe pain under my breast bone this happened after eating a fatty meal at a pub (something I don't normally do!) I felt ill all night and all day on the Sunday, unable to eat. By Monday I felt reasonably better apart from a very tender stomach, mush of the following week able to do normal chores etc, although still tender and gassy. By the Friday I rang my GP but they just said to get routine bloods on the 7th May and see GP for a follow up on the 13th May, By the Monday 15th April I called GP again and asked for my stomach to be felt. I saw the GP who organised urgent blood tests and arranged fast track appointment with gastric doctors at the hospital, by now I am very frightened. The GP called me on the 16th April (next day) and advised blood very elevated and I had jaundice. I didn't think I had jaundice, but the yellow soon started to show and my wee become very dark. The GP said this still could be gallbladder issue with gallstones.  On Thursday the 18th I had a poop but felt something hard fall in to the water it felt like a stone dropping into the water, but I stupidly did not fish it out, it was dark irregular shape, the rest of the poop was light brown and floated. After this had happened my wee started to return to normal colour, I still had pain in the lower part of my tummy, the jaundice also started to lift over the next few days. I was also called for ultra sound on the 18th, they picked up something on my pancreas, I was later told this was a dilated bile duct. I explained to the biliary nurse that my jaundice had now gone and wee was normal again and asked if this was positive, she felt there was still possibly a blockage but I couldn't understand why things would have gone back to normal. I had lost weight but only since the 6th April when the pains started, before my weight was always the same. I went for a CT scan on the 26th April, and was called yesterday to meet with the Biliary Nurse to discuss the outcome.  Please could you advise if me not now having jaundice is a good sign as surely if this is cancer I would still have all the symptoms? Could this be a benign issue or scarring from a possible gallstone? I should also mention that last June i fell heavily on my front and hurt my stomach just below the breast bone, my dog pulled me over, I understand injury can cause cysts on the pancreas, could it be that the possible gallbladder or pancreatitis caused by fatty meal could just be another matter which may have bought the cyst to the forefront? Any information on jaundice reseeding wold be helpful as I am out of my mind with worry.

  • Hello and thank you,

    I am sorry to hear about the worry you have.

    I am afraid I do not know what it means if your symptoms have got better or gone.  This may mean that nothing serious is the matter.  However, without knowing what is the matter I am afraid I cannot answer that.

    The pancreatic cyst may have nothing to do with your symptoms. I have seen in some research papers that injury can sometimes cause cysts. However, I do not know what (if anything) has caused yours. 

    The results of the CT scan will hopefully throw more light on the causes of the symptoms you have and if there's a concern that you could have cancer.  So, I hope you get the results soon.

    You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care,

    Caroline