Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer - Cancer: Pancreatic & Liver Message Board

dea4 · 07-16-2008, 02:38 PM

Can anyone tell me what the symptoms are of pancreatic cancer in people you know who have had or do have it? Is it a sudden thing, no prior symptoms at all, or have there been any small symptoms that are now linked to it like stomach pain, pain in the left side when otherwise feeling and eating fine? What symptoms caused a visit to the doctor?

Mel52 · 07-16-2008, 06:03 PM

I can really only tell you the symptoms my best friend had. Her back was hurting kind of in the rib area. She thought maybe she had pulled a muscle throwing a saddle on her horse. She had extreme fatigue but she worked really long hours. She went to the dr and was told she was diabetic. She wasn't real interested in eating, it irritated her stomach but thought it was due to the oral insulin pills. She went back to the dr, had a scan and pancreatic cancer was suspected. She had a MRI and was diagnosed with stage IV. She didn't lose weight until 8 months later.
It seems from what I have read, alot of people don't know and the cancer is discovered during other exams. That is one of the problems with this cancer, is the late diagnosis.
You have concern for you?

dea4 · 07-16-2008, 06:59 PM

Yes I'm concerned. I have had stomach area pain off and on for many years. Lately it bothers me more. I have rib pain but my ribs do seem to pop when I rub on them. I have always had back problems and while I have this pain it seems my back hurts or is sore on the left side. It hurts sometimes when I turn a certain way or take a deep breath. The pain I have is sometimes dull, sometimes a sticking or pinching pain, sometimes a sore feeling. Sometimes, not always, I get a little indegestion when I have it. I woke one night and was laying on my stomach, I had the pain but when I turned to my side it went away. It seems that when I get this it lasts a couple of weeks and then subsides and doesn't really bother me much.
A few years ago my dr did some tests for H pylori and also checked amalayse and lypase, all came back normal.
It worries me every time this starts bothering me but I don't have insurance and can't afford a lot of testing.

Mel52 · 07-16-2008, 09:28 PM

You have had this for a really long time? By now I would think you would probably know if it were cancer as pancreatic cancer is a fast growing cancer. There are so many things that can minic the symptoms you are having. Irritable bowel syndrome came to mind. Food allergies? Gas pockets can cause pain like you describe. An ultrasound would probably be a good thing. There are those traveling services that do body scans of different body parts for very reasonable prices. In our area, sometimes through the city services. Not knowing is so scary.

ergo4 · 08-02-2008, 08:34 AM

My mother didn't really have any symptoms per se. She just developed what she thought was a terrible flu that ended her up in the hospital. It was during a blood test that they discovered they needed to look farther. By the time she was diagnosed the cancer had spread to many places.

I wonder if you have problems with your gall bladder. You can have stones or something like that for years and it will cause all sorts of problems from your rib cage to your back, causes indgestion as well. My mother had her gall bladder removed prior to her struggle with pancreatic cancer.