Pancreatic cancer as I have steatorrhea so scared

not sure if this post is still active ....,I am.a 40 year old.male........ but I can also say I almost have all the same symptoms and to are freaking out.....I've had pretty consistant loose floating stools (some times eventually sinking)...the coloring hasnt been yellow or pale rather more brown......gurgling noises and gas which more times than not are smelly ....I dont get nauseous or vomitt and I believe I have my appetite except the week after I googled symptoms and lost my appetite

it started probably little over two months ago .....I decided to see a GI because I was also concerned about a discomfort I had in upper right chest that I've had for few years off and on in which I had a ultrasound notice a gallbladder polyp......since going to.GI I've had an ultra sound which saw same polyp (no clear image of pancreas though)...I'm had a breath test and an endoscopy which they said were fine......I had a fecal elastase test which was normal and tons of blood work which all seem normal........I weighed about 216 pounds 2-3 months ago......and weighed 212 lbs during my consult 1 month ago.......I now have been weighing consistently 210-211lbs midday but It feels like I lost ton of muscle .....everything fits different and I feel like certain areas are less muscular......within the last week it feels like discomfort is in middle and on left under chest depending how I lean or lay......like everyone else I'm freaking out because on top of this the damn corona virus is shutting down everything and making appointments harder......what is everyone's opinion

I've had all of these symptoms for 2 years but now I'm losing weight and have upper chest and back pain near left shoulder blade.....I'm terrified. ....please help

hey guys

I've read all you're posts...and cancers can be scary....as I have all symptoms as discussed over these posts...but not cancer....I wont believe that till I have a diagnosis...so having said that.....as I read more and more studies published papers ect. I have been blessed with a high IQ but it's to my detriment more often than not...so there's a condition called PSC.(primary sclerosing cholangitis....this is where you're hepatic branches are effected....causing scarring in your liver...and a syndrome called vanishing bile ducts...theres only a couple of tests like injections of die into the bile ducts under ct scan simultaneously.....this will definitely show if your getting the right enzymes. I'm not a doctor and these tests are performed when liver function tests come back abnormal like alt/ast. levels are higher than normal. I think it goes undiagnosed a lot.....thanks jpowell4576

hi everyone,

I'm 33 years old and have always suffered with a strange bowel ever since childhood. i can remember back when i was a young boy i would always have to strain to go to the toilet and was quite irregular from a young age.

during the past 4-5 years i developed a strange sensation (rarely a pain) in my lower left (as i look down) abdomen area. i went to the Dr's numerous times and they always had a feel around, did some blood tests which always came back clear, and sent me on my way.

around 2 years ago now (early 2019), during one of these visits, the Dr said I had Gilberts syndrome as my bilirubin levels were slightly elevated (around 45) but every other test including liver function was normal.

i didnt think much of this and it sort of put my mind to rest for a while, although health anxiety is never far away when it comes to me.

Late 2019 i developed a strange sensation under my armpits (mainly left). Around this time i also started getting the odd night sweat. I was under great deal of stress at the time with work. Again I went to the Dr's who checked my armpits and couldnt feel any enlarged lymph nodes or lumps. They completed another blood test which again came back normal. The sensation continued for a while but doesnt seem present lately.

In October 2020 I went to the Dr for the same reason (lower left abdominal discomfort, discomfort under armpit and a new symptom which was a slight discomfort in my upper abdominal area (central and slightly to the left under left rib cage). I started taking probiotics around this time and one of the side effects was bloating. This sensation seemed to go a few weeks after I stopped taking these.

Its now March 2021 and the past 3 weeks I've been suffering with upper abdominal discomfort. This seems to be in the upper central region slightly to the left as above. But I sometimes also feel to the right under the right rib cage. I've been feeling quite nauseas during this time and have had times where I havent felt like eating and other days where I'm eating normally. I also noticed a small amount of bright red blood on my stool twice in the past 3-4 weeks which seems to be if I pass a large stool.

I've had a private endoscopy and colonoscopy and the GE noticed I had mild bulbar duodenitis. I also have a CT scan booked in for tomorrow. The gastroent... wasnt concerned but could see how anxious I was so offered the tests as "a duty of care to put my mind at rest".

I've been examining my poo for months now and dont really have a regular pattern. I sometimes go every day and sometimes I might miss 2-3 days and have a large bowel movement on day 3. The texture seems to always be a harder more formed first part followed by a looser second part which is almost a mushy consistency. I've shown the GE photos of this and he didnt seem to be concerned, but looking closely at the second half that comes out it seems a bit steatorrhea in texture.

I'm now 3-4 weeks in since the nausea and tummy discomfort started and I'm absolutely terrified its something serious. I wake up frequently in the morning really warm or sometimes sweat in the night. Ive been told previously that this is likely due to anxiety but I'm not sure. I've lost around 7lb in weight also, although the days I feel normal I start to see my weight rise again.

Has anyone had something similar? I've always been anxious about my health but the nausea and lack of appetite on some days has turned it up to another level. I cant concentrate on anything and my work is suffering and I'm putting strain on my partner by sharing these concerns. I've had 2 CA19 tests (one Oct 2020 and another last week) and both have been normal. The only anomoly in my bloods in the slightly elevated (barely noticeable) high bilirubin which was 42 recently.

Thank you for reading,

Martin

Hi, I'm 48 and really concerned that I've got pancreatic cancer too. My anxiety levels are through the roof and I stupidly looked at google for some answers.

I have had a lot of the symptoms most people seem to have, which include yellowish greasy stools/water diahrea, back pain in mid left hand side under rib cage, nausea, joint aches, mild stomach pain (occasionally) radiating around my sides and I've lost a stone in weight. More recently I've become thirsty and peeing more, my skin feels more sensitive, itchy/burning sensation and last night I had night sweats - the last few could easily be anxiety.

I seem to feel worse in the evening, especially after eating an evening meal.

This all started in December, where the GP to some stool samples, and I had standard bloods taken (all came back normal). At this point I was also referred to a GI specialist, but the appointment wasn't until 24th March. Then in Jan things seemed to get worse, so I asked for further tests while I waited for the GI appointment, amylase and feacal elastase being two of them (all came back normal). At the end of Feb I felt that with new symptoms arising, I wanted to talk to the doctors again. I spoke to a different GP this time who took a urine sample and found it to have high levels of glucose. As a result of the urine test, I've had further blood tests today. The GP also managed to get my appointment with the upper GI radiography department brought forward and I'll be having a scan on Saturday.

I'm so so worried that a tumor will be found.

Thanks for reading and any replies will be greatly appreciated.

Hi,

I suffer very badly with health anxiety and I am very aware that offering reassurance isn't always a good thing as it has a short term affect, but I also hate to see people suffering, so I decided to reply.

I have had pancreatic cancer. Notice I said 'had' as I am 4 years out now.

Pancreatic cancer does not hide and blood results would have several anomalies. It is highly, highly unlikely, in fact nigh on impossible, to have normal liver function tests and pancreatic cancer. My cancer was localised and still my liver tests were ALL completey deranged, as were my FBC and a number of others, including the CA19-9 marker.

In terms of weight loss - I lost a stone in a week/10 days. It isn't a couple of pounds, it's radical.

Toilet habits - sometimes you will have smelly, floating poos and it be completely normal - usually after eating something high in fat.

I am a massive advocate of staying vigilant and getting anything checked, but if you have scans and clear bloods - please stop worrying yourself about having pancreatic cancer.

I hope this helps,

Amy xx

Been having this issue since Mid February. pretty much resigned myself to the fact that i have pancreatic cancer but nobody will help me and im terrified.

33 year old male.

Began with ruq pain just under the rib with increased bowel movements which are very light in colour/yellow.

Had colonoscopy and endoscopy. colonoscopy found 1 polyp in descending colon which was removed. endoscopy found a small hiatal hernia and mild oesophagitis just above the opening to the stomach. i did have a very spotty history of reflux but not often and not bad.

Pain continued. Had an ultrasound with nil abnormalities found but not able to see pancreas due to bowel gas and probably me being 15kg overweight (105kg 6'3").

Had a CT scan in April with nothing found other than some simple cysts in kidneys which is apparently common.

This all continued until approx 6 weeks ago when the pain shifted to the middle of my abdomen just below the sternum. Stools still light coloured.

Doctors have run out of ideas. Gave me PPI's and i had to fight for a referral to a GI. Cant see GI until September.

ive had probably 8 blood tests which included a coeliac test, a hypylori breath test and a stool test which looked for bacteria but not fat.

Ive tried eliminating dairy, i've eliminated alcohol (was never a big drinker anyway, 3 beers a week on average). Nothing helps and im now super depressed and resigned myself to an early death and leaving my family behind.

just wanted to get this off my chest. dont expect a reply or a diagnosis.

Thanks

I wondered what the outcomes of this was. i am going through exactly the same thing at the moment, its been a year. I'm terrified.

any updates from anyone. im having exactly the same experience.

Much love

Have they measured your fecal fat?

That's how they discovered I had EPI, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Now I take PERT enzymes, Zenpep, to help digest the fat in my food. No more stinky poop, no more floating and fluffy poop. Now I have normal bowel movements.

I did ask what could've caused this to occur. They said I could've had undiagnosed chronic pancreatis where the pain was lowered from pain meds. At first they thought pancreatic cancer because I used to smoke tobacco during my younger days. But I quit in 1989. Then the CT scan showed a normal pancreas.One doc said it was idiopathic. So basically, they don't know.

Good luck!