Fears of Pancreatic cancer

So for around 5 weeks I’ve had a pain underneath the left rib cage that started out as a dull ache that was intermittent but as time has done on is now more constant has spread to side of ribs and back aches. Last few days the acid and heartburn has appeared and I’m feeling full quicker.

I’m 41 male and have had a history of gerd, ibs and Haitian hernia but those pain feel totally different. Over the past 12 months I’ve had a few sharp pains around he pancreas and gall stone areas which cane our clear on ct with contrast and oscopys (both ways)

I think my kind is spiralling that I may have pancreatic cancer as my gran and her father both died of the disease so I’m heightened to this more now. I’ve just had bloods taken and have go follow up this week.

I know how difficult PC is to find so understand it could take a whilst and potentially could be too late but I wanted to pop on to see if these symptoms ring true to and one else but also what are the other potential illnesses that this full gnawing ache is. Everywhere online lists sharp and burning pains under ribs with lots of options but there doesn’t seem to be any other options easily findable that relates to dull gnawing aching pain.

id appreciate any thoughts/advise.

  • Hi Burningquestion1983,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with this pain.

    It's good to hear you've been speaking to your doctor about this and that you've had some tests. It sounds like you're waiting for further results - hopefully it won't be long to wait for those.

    It will of course be your doctor who is best placed to advise, so do be sure to keep speaking to them to get the answers and information you need.

    If others here have any similar experience to share then hopefully you'll get some more replies soon.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi, 

    just seen your post and wondering how you are? I have almost identical symptoms to what you have described and am waiting for a GP appointment. 

    I had breast cancer last year and am predisposed to pancreatic cancer so I’m a little worried. 

    I so hope you are well and it wasn’t as serious as you were worrying about. 

    best wishes 

  • So I should have come on sooner to reply but life kinda takes over.

    i wanted to reply as it goes to show things can be totally fine.

    i did go to the drs multiple times and laid it on thick each time about my family history with pancreatic cancer. They did a couple if blood tests but honestly none of them really thought about doing more. After around 2.5 months of unexplained pain I demanded a scan but they wouldn’t refer to nhs as I didn’t meet the criteria. On the end to put my mind at rest I paid for a full chest and abdominal ct scan with contrast. Paid a bending cyst on my liver everything came back fine. Whether this was a case of psychosomatic or not I don’t know. But after a further 2-3 weeks the pain started to diminish and now I rarer have it. The GPs recommend it could be caused by my fibromyalgia or potential a problem such as slipping rib syndrome but everything else seems to have calmed down.

    so I guess all that I can say is that yes sometimes you do just gave completely unexplained pain that will go undiagnosed or even just never known what it was. But thank you to everyone who reached out. Thankfully all is ok currently.