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.

Parents
  • 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? 

Reply
  • 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? 

Children
  • 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 :)