Pancreatic Cancer fears

Hi there
I am new to this and have not been diagnosed but i do seem to be having some worrying symptoms which i am unable to explain.
Whilst i appreciate that nobody here can diagnose me, i hoped that shared experiences might enable me to make some more sense of this.
In March this year i started with pain around the kidney area which was accompanied by a very dry mouth. I was tested for Diabetes and the results were in normal range. These symptoms passed after a few weeks but were replaced with what has become a constant, mild stitch like pain under my ribcage, mainly on the left side but is noticeable on the right side from time to time.
This has been accompanied by indigestion (lots of burping) and more recently an 'all over body itch' which does not come with a rash.
Obviously these are concerning and not going away. If anything, they are getting slightly more uncomfortable but are still manageable.
In the last 5 weeks i have had two abdominal ultrasounds, firstly of kidney, bladder and prostate (all fine) and secondly of liver, gall bladder and pancreas (again the sonographer said everything was fine and as i jad fasted and consumed water as requested, he said he was able to get good images.
I have also had a range of blood tests done including for diabetes, celiac, amylase, thyroid function and liver function. All tests have been within range bar 2. The 2 in question were both liver function tests and i scored slightly higher than i should for total protein serum and albumin.
The GP doesnt seem concerned as the readings are only slightly out but with the abdominal and ribcage pain radiating to the back as well as the itching issues, i cant help but think that something is going on.
My GP thinks it is medically unexplained symptoms based on blood tests and ultrasounds and has not suggested anything to deal with the discomfort and itching. The area of discomfort and the symptoms seem to suggest, from what i have read, that it could be liver or pancreas related but the ultrasounds were all clear.
I feel a little lost and am not sure what to do next as the GP will not refer me anywhere as there are, to his mind, no red flags.
Yet the symptoms and the fear of not knowing what is happening is sending me into a low.
Has anyone any ideas or suggestions?

Apologies for the long post and i appreciate your time if you have read this. Equally, if i have come to the wrong place, then i apologise.

Jim

  • Hi Kev thanks for the reply, I've been to the gp again but told that they cant refer me for a ct/mri and i have to go through gastroenterology so now waiting for a referral appointment before any possibility of a scan. Meantime im just not feeling well with swelling around my left rib, stomach issues/loose stool, back ache and low in energy - no choice but to wait at the moment, keeping my fingers crossed all is ok but im feeling quite worried after 18 months progressively feeling worse. 

    I hope you will feel a bit better soon and and very sorry to read about your diagnosis - keep positive pal and best wishes. Seán

  • Hi Sean 

    The symptoms I had were light coloured syools and very dark urine, and then I turned yellow at that point I was taken to hospital where I had all the gastro tests and scans but it was not untill I had a CT scan that I got a diagnosis.

    I hope all goes well with you and keep nagging the doctors, I had to go to my MP to get things moving.

     

    All the best

    Kev

  • Thanks Kev, sounds like you've had a tough time getting to this point I hope you will start to feel better soon. Having had a blood test last Friday that I requested after not feeling very well I got a call from the practice today saying I'm to come in on 7 Jan and discuss the blood results with a gp before I'll be referred to haematology soon after - no indication at all what the issue is and not ideal to get a call like that on xmas eve - but i'll keep pushing on 7th for some urgency with tests you are right. 

    Keep the head up and happy xmas to you, thanks again for the advice and best wishes. 

    Seán

  • Jim, i know its 3 years down the line but only just read your messages and wondere how things are with you know as i am experiencing the same symptoms, popping anti acid tablet like sweete but they doing nothing. Hope things turned out well.

  • Hi, did you get to the bottom of your problem. I am in the same boat?

  • Hi Joanie, i am sorry it has taken me so long to reply and  to hear that you are having problems with pancreatic cancer symptoms but i hope i can put your mind at rest or at least stem your concerns. I too feared the worst after similar symptoms and convinced myself i had PC but after scans and an endoscopy found out i was clear and given  aclean bill of health. I know it must be a worrying time but think posative and i'm sure things will turn out fine.

  • Thank you for taking the time to reply and for trying to reassure me.  Did they say what was causing the acid reflux and indigestion?  Has the acid reflux disappeared or are you still having to take medication?  I have tried two different types of PPis but this has not relieved my symptoms.

  • Dear Joanie, apparently my acid reflux is common among my age group (late fifties) and intensified with the stress it was causing me.I was told to try and not to stress and worry about anything, i still suffer from it, but not as bad and am taking 20mg of omoprazol twice a day. I am sure it is not anything serious although it is easy for me to say, do you think the stress and worry is making it worse ?

  • Hi jago, I've just come across this post and experiencing exact same symptoms as northernjim. Just been for ultrasound and waiting on results but realised I have serious health anxiety and totally convinced I have PC. Did you manage to get a CT quickly? And how are you doing? Appreciate been over a year but would be great to understand what else could be causing these symptoms apart from PC (ie started with stomach pains, itchy back that comes and goes, pain then moved under right rib cage, now under left and constant nagging that goes through to my back sometimes, lost my appetite in last 48hrs and feeling really low )