Scared that I have pancreatic cancer

I am worried that I have pancreatic cancer. I'm a 28 year old woman. My great aunt died from pancreatic cancer, but she was in her 50's 

A few months ago I started having digestive issues that include excessive gas and burping all of the time. I then developed pain on my left side under my ribs and in my back. It jumps around the rib cage and mid to upper back. I also feel it in my low back and abdomen occasionally. 

I've had a ton of blood work and stool tests that all came back clear. These included liver tests. They checked my gallbladder and found nothing. I had a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis that also came back clear. I even had a second radiologist look it over to ensure that the first one didn't miss anything. I have a colonoscopy/endoscope scheduled for a few weeks from now. I'm just worried that the CT scan may have missed something on my pancreas, because of the pain location and the weird digestive stuff.

Any advice or personal experience would be so appreciated. I've definitely been anxious over the whole situation.

  • I understand your worry.

    You have had good results from all your tests and I'm sure the ct would have picked up anything.

    I had my routine ct and it even reported a 'folicle' on my womb lining so it does see the smallest thing and I'm sure if it was cancer causing your symptoms it would be a large enough area to show up on the scan.

    It's natural with your family history to be anxious. Sometimes the more anxious we are the worse our symptoms are.

  • Hello 

    I know this post is a few months old now but you did you a diagnosis? I'm experiencing exactly the same symptoms as you described. Had X-rays, so many blood tests, stool samples, endoscopy and CT scan everything came back normal apart from a Few gallstones which they said they won't remove due to gallbladder not being inflamed. 

    Feeling stuck with what to do now as all my tests are clear yet still experiencing pain. 

  • Hi :) I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through the same thing, but that is so great that your tests have come back good! I still have no answers. I've since had an endoscope, colonoscopy and an abdominal MRI. However, I have a rib that pops in and out of place on my left side; which started at the same time as all of these symptoms. I may have slipping rib syndrome. SRS causes pain and can cause digestive issues as well. I plan to bring it up at my next appointment. I have realized that there are quite a few conditions that can cause these symptoms, and of course our minds jump to the worst conclusion. I'm trying to trust the tests and let go of my anxiety over it. Easier said than done lol. SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is something that you may want to look into as well as slipping rib. It can also cause all of these symptoms. I have joined a Slipping Rib Facebook group, and a SIBO Facebook group. There are a ton of people on there experiencing similar symptoms. Maybe join those as well!

  • Hi guys. I hope you don't mind me responding, but I am in exactly the same position. Danielle91 I have been experiencing exactly the same symptoms that you described in your post. I've just had CT scan abdo done and it came back clear but having a hard time trusting the results and I am petrified I have Pacreatic Cancer. I've paid privately for all investigations- due endo/colonoscopy next week. I don't want to waste anymore money on tests. What interests me is that you said about slipping rib syndrome. I have a popping left rib at the bottom too, but have the same symptoms you describe. Could this really be the answer and does it really cause digestive issues? 
    I noticed the popping rib years ago but it's only just started to give me pain.

    My life is in tatters with this, the exhaustion and anxiety is so profound and overwhelming.

  • Pancreatic cancer is terrifying. I have been struggling with so much anxiety from it as well. It kind of flipped my life upside down. I didn't realize how many symptoms that slipping rib syndrome could cause until I joined the Facebook group. If you join it, and scroll through the posts, or search the posts, you'll find a lot about pain and digestive issues. If you have a rib that you can feel popping it is likely that could be what is going on with you!

  • This is so interesting. Are you now looking into this as the source of your pain? After my colonoscopy/endoscopy I'm not sure what other tests are even available. And I can't afford to keep going with them. I'm in debt already from trying to find the answers. I'm even seeking second opinion on my Ct scan results as I don't trust it. 

    I'm not on social media as trying to stay off it due to my very serious health anxiety. So I'm glad you have mentioned this to me.

    I notice the rib years ago, but it's only now that I'm getting the pain, so I thought it would have surfaced before. 
     

    You said your pain jumped around the rib cage. Does it come and go too?

     

     

     

  • My digestive issues started around the time that my rib started popping, but the pain came a couple of months later. It does bounce around, and it does come and go. Movement usually brings it on, so that makes me think it is probably the rib. It tends to feel better when I lay flat on my back. Where do you live? There are doctors who specialise in the correction surgery. I know of one in the US and one in the UK. A CT or MRI will not diagnose it. You need a dynamic ultrasound, because they have you move during it so they can see the rib slipping.

  • I've been having a similar issue for the past year. Was getting sharp pains in my stomach one evening after playing frisbee in the park and the next morning I woke up feeling as though I'd been hit with a baseball bat in my left side. Severity has come and gone through the year, but really bad at the moment. All my blood work has been fine and my thoughts have been if I have this level of pain after a year and no other symptoms it surely can't be an organ. Nor would it feel so bruised.

    Prior to the pain, for a few years my lower left rib would pop if i moved my hips side to side, since the pain introduced itself it no longer pops. The pain I experience is tender to the touch around the lower ribs, pain in the back, upper left hip and even sometimes when I raise my arm. It sometimea feels like burning nerve pain, other times a bruised ache or sharp. It hurts to bend forward and lean on my left side, and do any exercise. I do also have very mild scoliosis and a slightly flared rib which I doubt helps.

    I'm bringing it up with my GP tomorrow but each time I search for Slipping Rib Syndrome on UK pages including NHS I can't find it. Anyone in the UK here have any luck with the doctors investigating it? 

  • That sounds just like slipping rib and just like my pain. The Facebook group is called slipping rib syndome, and there are people from the UK on there. I'm actually in the UK as well. If you are on Facebook definitely find the page called "Slipping Rib Syndrome" and join. There is a picture of a rib cage as the cover photo. So many people with similar symptoms on there. And a ton of good info on doctors and procedures to fix the issue :)