Hi all,
I have been having digestive system problems for the past 5 years (2020) symptoms include-
discomfort and pain under the breastbone after eating. Even after a small amount of food.
loss of appetite only having breakfast and a small meal at tea time
feeling of being full after a small meal
loss of 10kg over 5 years
no energy, I get breathless and start shaking after little effort such as washing the car.
hoarse voice and dry mouth.
constipation. Sometimes going a week between movements.
A general feeling of been unwell
i think I have a cancer somewhere in my digestive system. Given my symptoms this could be large or small bowel, liver, pancreas, Gaul bladder, spleen etc.
However dispite a number of tests nothing has shown up to date.
I’ve had numerous full blood tests most recent march 2025. Two endoscopy’s most recent march 2025,both normal.
two Ct scans chest abdo and pelvis one in 2020, normal. Then one in may 2025 again normal. Found no difference to 2020 scan.
I’ve had a camera down my Willy to check my bladder, all normal except for bladder stones which they broke up with ultrasound. Also narrowing of the urethra at the prostate which they said was normal for a 65 year old.
After all this I still have the same symptoms and generally feel just ***! I spend most of my day watching tele in my bedroom. I don’t go out much. If I do and try to do a little job or walk the dog I just feel *** and shaky. The only way I feel ok is to sit quietly and watch tele which takes mind off things.
the thing is that my gps have diagnosed me as having “a delusional belief of having cancer”. This being backed up by a consultant psychiatrist. They are and have been for the past five years treating me for this with a cocktail of 3 anti depression, anti psychotic drugs plus cognitive therapy. I must say the mental health side of the health service have spent a lot of time and resources on trying to help me. They have helped because the medication has reduced my anxiety of having cancer. Also I’m less fearful of dying!
if only the physical side of my health was looked at as thoroughly. When I think of it over the period of 5 years the time spent on me was probably around 15 minutes per consultation be it gp or even more limited, specialist consultants. It’s not surprising that they have not diagnosed my illness. They all seem to jump on the mental health bandwagon making me feel like a fraud.
I don’t know where to go from here. My gp won’t refer me to a gastroenterologist. I did go privately to a GI ,cost me £180 for an hour. He did get me an endoscopy which came back as normal but then discharged me back to my gp. What about the rest of the organs ? it appears he wasn’t bothered about that. It seems he got wind of my “delusional “ belief’s!!! I descided that if I wanted something doing I would have to do it myself so I organised a Ct scan privately, cost me £1230. Again came back normal. However I have been led to understand that cancer doesn’t always show up on a scan. In particular in the bowels.
what can I do? I suppose I will just have to wait until the cancer develops to such a state that’s it’s undeniable. Unfortunately for me it will be to late.
another thought, if cancer was present in 2020 would it have grown by 2025 and be more identifiable?? How long can you have it before it presents itself?
Sorry for the long story thanks for reading.
