New - Need Advice

TCG

I have been viewing this board for some time as I have undergone tests for PC. I am 40, single mom of 3. About 3 weeks ago I went to Urgent Care with backache, upper ab pain. Cscan revealed possible Pan mass or Volume Averaging and I was urged to follow up. I have since had an MCRP (MRI), Sectioned Cscan, and some sort of scope. The Dr. told me that everything is fine, that I have volume averaging and that I am an anxious person. (No kidding). Today I had an ultrasound and the results should be available in two days. I try not to think about it, but I am in a lot of pain, particularly in my mid and upper back, more so even than in my ab, which hurts as well. My pain is proportional to the amount of food I eat. If I eat nothing at all, I am relatively pain free until my next meal. Last night, after a moderate meal of lean steak, spinach and sweet potato, I could not even sleep until 1 AM for the pain in my upper back. My fear: If PC is so hard to diagnose, how is it that my Dr. can be sure that I dont have it? They ruled out Pancreatitis because my Amylase and Lipase levels were fine. Have lived with stomach pain for most of my life with an irritable bowel, but the backaches started in the last six months. I don't know what to do - I am afraid to eat and am losing weight. Any advice would be appreciated. God Bless.

Dennisdd

I dont no if this will help or not. I was just dx 2 weeks ago with pancreatic cancer. The local dr did not find it, i was sent to seattle wa where they did a fine needle scope and biopsy is the only way they found it. I urge you not to heisitate in getting this done. Where are you located? Dennis

RJillJ

Don't let them tell you nothing is wrong. They told my husband that he needed to go to mental health to talk to someone. It ended up that he had PC and that it was in the 4th stage already and gone to the liver. It was not operable. He lasted 4 months and 5 days. Please get another opinion. My husband tests turned out fine too. He too had belching attacks and stomach problems and had an upper GI, and they said it was fine, and he did this for years and years. So don't put it off or let them put it off.
Just advising, because of my husband's situation.
Thanks,
Robin

TCG

RJillJ said:

Don't let them tell you nothing is wrong. They told my husband that he needed to go to mental health to talk to someone. It ended up that he had PC and that it was in the 4th stage already and gone to the liver. It was not operable. He lasted 4 months and 5 days. Please get another opinion. My husband tests turned out fine too. He too had belching attacks and stomach problems and had an upper GI, and they said it was fine, and he did this for years and years. So don't put it off or let them put it off.
Just advising, because of my husband's situation.
Thanks,
Robin

Robin,
I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. It must have been very hard for you to lose him so quickly. I appreciate you taking the time to advise me. I don't plan on giving up yet! I'm wondering - was your husband in the military? I am - and your reference "go to Mental Health" caught my attention. God Bless.

isletcell

Get a PET scan it will show you right away if you have cancer. Forget other tests this one is the best. If your medical does not pay for it than there are private clinics that offer it with a doctors referal.And just remember that the squeeky wheel is always the one that gets the grease!!!!
good luck

sherman

Don't give up, keep up with going to the doctor. My father just died in October of pancreatic cancer. When he first went to the doctor with sleeplessness and pain due to his stomach they thought he had Gerd and treated him for that. After more doctor appointments and his condition worsening they finally found he had advanced pancreatic cancer which had already spread to his liver. He went through with chemo for two months but when we knew there was nothing that could be done he decided to stop the therapy and live out the rest of his life as "normal" as possible. He died three months after his diagnosis at the age of 52. I know this doesn't sound very pleasant but I just want to make sure that anybody who is thinking they may have this horrible cancer doesn't let it slip by with the wrong diagnosis, since many times it is hard to pin down. My thoughts are with you and your family. Good luck.

chuckdelamere

Has your doctor ordered a CA-19-9 blood test for you? This measures the carbohydrates given off by the cancer. It is a very good indicatorfor pancreatic cancer. It takes about a week to get the resulys.

rodzilla

TC, the folks here are absolutely right. My wife was diagnosed in November, it took nearly a full month to find out the complete story (not operable, metastatic). She's now doing chemo, but I fear that we're in our last days. You need to press for further testing, specifically the CA19 (yes, you have to wait a week). Also ask about abdominal CT scans and press for the ultrasound results.....it took all of that to nail it down for us. Let's hope, if the worst, that you can still get a Whipple procedure....it's your best chance. And yes, if you don't have a really good local resource for all of that, you need to find one, SOON.

Unknown

get a cat scan-this is the only way they found my tumor in time. I'll be praying for you
johnlh2

punkymay

Has anyone heard from TCG?