Hi,

I am so sorry to hear about your mum.  My advice would be to keep pushing for tests so you can get an accurate diagnosis.  Find out who the Consultant's Secretary is and contact her by phone to find out when the endoscopic ultrasound will be performed.  They could do a MRI also which is a much more accurate scan for detecting pancreatic cancer. If it is pancreatic cancer and it is operable your mum is in with a fighting chance. Do everything you can to keep her immune system tip top because if she needs surgery it is a big operation.

Jo

Hi Jo,

Thank you so much for your response and support. Bless. The Dr made a referral for pancreatic endoscopy on Monday with high priorIty, I called the secretary on Wed and she said to expect something at the start of next week. She did confess that some clinics were not happening due to covid but that NHS should expect to resume to more normal by next week... I bought her a new juicer and have been making her fresh veg and fruit shakes, which she likes and some manuka honey and Vit C tabs. I am hoping they can operate and that is an option but so far we know nothing. Everything I have read online has left me with dread, trying to balance optimism and realism and finding it hard. 
 

It sounds like you are doing as much as you can in these very difficult circumstances. It is odd that nothing showed up on the CT scan yet they think the cancer is spreading. Has your mum had any digestion issues, eg acid reflux, stomach ache, jaundice or change of bowel habits?  When you said they did a lymp biopsy, where did they take this from?  Remember, you are entitled to a second opinion under the NHS and if she is eligible for surgery she can have this done at any hospital.  It is a very specialised operation so only the very best and most experienced surgeon will do. Some very uplifting stories on Pancreatic cancer found on Health Unlocked.  

Thanks Jo, I will be looking at Health Unlocked. The first thing that they noticed in her scan was the abnormality in her lungs and lymph nodes, so they initially suspected lymphoma. The next time I spoke with the Dr she mentioned that some organs such as spleen and liver looked slightly enlarged but that it could be explained by other factors, but at the most recent update (after it was reviewed by a team) she suggested it's looking less likely to be lymphoma and they are suspecting the origin of cancer may be the pancreas and the other effects are secondary....we are receiving information in bits and nothing in written form yet.. I am hoping we get a clearer picture from this endoscopy, if not we are back to square 1.. hoping that normal NHS activity returns this week!

Hi

I am worried I may have pancreatic cancer I'm so scared

Can you tell me what symptoms you had please?

Thanks

Hi Ineedabreak,

I only recently joined this forum, and I am writing about my mums situation. Shes 60 and has history of type 2 diabetes... she reported losing weight significantly other than that she had a dry lingering cough.. from what I am learning with pancreatic cancer symptoms can really vary from one person to the next. Dont scare yourself unnecessarily, what makes you think you have this specific cancer. If you have concerns, get GP appointment and explain what ur symptoms and worries are, just to be safe. 

Thank you for your response.

I have had a different cancer in the past so health anxiety is a massive thing for me when I have any symptoms.

I always tell people not to look things up on google but I did just that.

I have been having discomfort for months around left rib area and have been to the gp twice, they thought it was muscular but it is still the same. I am sometimes feeling bloated and full too.

No weight loss though but some of the symptoms listed on the list for PC.

I have rang to send my consultant a message for advice.

Just feel sick with worry, always thinking the worst.

Love to your Mum

Thank you. That's understandable for you to get concerned given your past experience but it seems a lot of symptoms that can show up in pancreatic cancer can appear in other conditions that are not as alarming. Best thing is to tell the GP directly what you are worried about and let them run some rests, a lot of people have gastro problems and suspect cancer but it turns out to be irritable bowel disease other similar conditions. Monitor your weight and if you get loss of appetite, my mum put it down to travelling at the time etc. I am very upset that the endoscopy referral hasn't gotten anywhere, called the unit and they said they don't have an open date for services due to covid. Have asked the GP to intervene, because it's been nearly 6 weeks since her first abnormal test and we are non the wiser and the 2 week target for her endoscopy referral hasn't been met. 

All this waiting is just awful isn't it.

Hopefully things will get moving again soon.