What were your symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

I joined this informative group today and noticed you seem to be having symptoms similar to mine. Mine started left side pain and a burning gnawing feeling under ribs that migrates to upper stomach area plus nausea. In March I was having these upper GB burning symptoms with increased belching that only mildly relieved the feeling. That continued but not as persistent. Before that I had noticed the upper left back pain that would come and go and radiate to my lower left back flank. Dull but also burning. This upper GI and flank pain is what you describe as something eating your insides. My is intense now and constant on my left back side. I can’t sleep well because of the discomfort. This constant pain started maybe two weeks ago along with the stomach discomfort that doesn’t subside but momentarily when eating and a general overall feeling of malaise. I saw my GP last week and he recommended colonoscopy and endoscopy. I’m worried with these symptoms and elevated Lipase of 66 on 12-60 value range plus slightly anemic now and my levels were fine in April . I’m 54 so age is not on my side. I’m trying to schedule appointments sooner than later but like you, hard with Dr scheduling and insurance approvals. I’m considering an ER trip to have testing sooner due to my worry and discomfort. How are you and did your April appointment with GI shed any light? Prayers for your health and all of us here.

I saw the GI and she ordered an EGD..I just happened to go back and look at an ER visit I had in 2018.Low and behold my gall bladder ultrasound showed a large amount of stones and it was recommended by the radiologist to have the Ercp.The er doc nor my PCP ever gave me this info. Messaged the GI and asked for an ultrasound..It was done
..had ,of course , many stones and a positive Murphy's sign .Had a chole by lap on the 18th and am 2weeks post op and doing well.The path showed stones almost as big as the gall bladder and stones lodged in the cystic duct.Its a wonder I wasn't jaundiced. Thanks for checking back.

I started with acute pancreatitis in mid March. Pain in lower left abdomen only. The lipase number was over triple normal so treated me as pancreatitis. Didn’t resolve with normal bowel cleansing. Spent time in er with the extreme pain in lower abdomen.

I don’t even think I had noticeable pain in back or front in rib cage area until the cancer diagnosis.

The only reason they kept looking is that my symptoms wouldn’t resolve.

They found a cyst and under it was a mass at the neck. Then the PET scan showed it spread to liver and lymph nodes.

The crazy thing is I feel 100%. I can eat anything and I have no pain. I look like I always have. It’s very easy to slide into denial when you feel like this.

My first symptoms were pain in the upper left back. After CT and PET scans it was determined that I had lung cancer. Had a mediastonoscopy of lymph nodes . One came back positive for adenocarcinoma. I have been receiving immunotherapy for 2 years. Last summer I noticed the smelly, loose pale stools, increased gas, abdominal discomfort after eating. I googled the symptoms and the one common denominator was pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Subsequent biopsy results, acinar cell carcinoma. Dr. Google has a place in the tool box of being your own health care advocate.
Most health care providers have websites where you can see all of your imaging, biopsy results as well as your doctor's comments and treatment reccomendations. Learn how to access it. Knowledge is power. Prayers do work.

Dr. Google has its place, but when you don’t know what adenocarcinoma is and you google it….only to find out how potentially bad it is…while at teacher inservice with your colleagues…. They knew right away something bad had happened without me saying anything.

I have gotten better now at talking with my doctor before I ask Dr. Google. It tempers my “worst case scenario” anxiety, which I have always had. It is a blessing and a curse to get test results before the doctor can speak with you.

Agree. I am not sure why they post results before your physician can review them.It certainly creates alot of unnecessary anxiety and sleepless nights.. and if have your records shared with a family member they too are affected .Normal results ok but those that are questionable should be with held until reviewed.

I have suggested this to my doctors. They don’t get that kind of power, but maybe if enough talk to them about this….

I certainly will be bring it up to my PCP on Friday.

Unlike most others, my symptom was an acute pain in my lower right side a few times. Thought it had to be appendix! After some searching and finally a CT scan, it was stage IV Pcan.
Like many others, I really had nothing before that event to send me to the doctor other than occasional constipation which I consistently blamed on a sensitive stomach vis a vis fatty foods. Hadn’t had food with cream sauces in years! My blood work was always normal so no reason to suspect cancer until that event. Even then my panels were normal but my angel Dr said let’s do a scan. I thank God often that she came into my life by happenstance.
Otherwise I would definitely not be here 4 years later.

I had zero symptoms. They only found it when I had a kidney stone stuck. The radiologist caught it.