1. < Cancer

Afraid I have cancer

Posted by a2dc2dc @a2dc2dc, Dec 6, 2019

Hello,

I come to this discussion in desperate need to find help or support.

I have been suffering from non-specific symptoms for the last 2 months and I am afraid that if I wait any longer, it could lead to a poor outcome.

Started early October with a sense of dizziness that is still ongoing, sometimes tends to fade at the end of the day. Shortly after I started to develop more symptoms, burning icy hot feeling around left ankle, constantly throughout the day. Then the weight started to come off, since my first Dr. visit I have lost 9 lbs within 2 months and dropped 3 belt sizes. Intermittent Sharp pain in the shin area of the same ankle. along the way I started having stomach issues, mostly in the beginning that consisted of diarrhea and constipation. After I eat or drink anything, I immediately get really gassy, withing minutes to seconds of intake. My body hair has dramatically decreased in texture, very thin and brittle hair, maybe due to the rapid weight loss? Within the last 2 weeks, I have developed a neck pain, back pain and both flanks pain. The flank pain wakes me up at night due to a very hot feeling that comes on during sleep. The spine pain only hurts when I bend over or slouch a bit. I also developed insomnia the first month(October). My chest feels heavy at times with constant production of clear grey phlegm. No cough or shortness, shortness of breath or blood in sputum. Vision has also been affected, blurry and hard to concentrate with a lot of eye floaters.

Tests performed have been, a series of blood test, abdominal ultra sound, colonoscopy, endoscopy, thyroids, inflamation markers, chest x ray, diabetes and all have been normal.

i am so stressed and worried about what is going on in my body. It feels like a horrible dream for the last 2 months.

Any advice or information will help out.

Thank you for your ears and time.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.

a2dc2dc | @a2dc2dc | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@a2dc2dc Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are a diverse group of patients/family members and caregivers who..." + (show)
@gingerw

@a2dc2dc Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are a diverse group of patients/family members and caregivers who share our own stories and experiences, to support others in our similar shoes. We are not medical professionals and cannot off medical advice or diagnose disorders. How scary and frustrating this must be for you! It's difficult enough to deal with such symptoms individually, but to have more than one happening at the same time is overwhelming, isn't it? You have a very thorough list. Have you kept a journal of any sorts, and been able to bring a timeline to your doctors? What has your primary doctor said might be the causes? You may have to extend your search to a second doctor, or various specialists. Perhaps some testing that includes hormonal, gastric testing will be added to what has been done. When you reflect back to the beginning of all this, how has your life changed on a daily basis? This will be important to talk over with your doctors, also. I hope that this weekend you are able to gather information to present your case to your doctors, and that you also get a chance to relax. We care about your situation.
Ginger

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Ginger,

Thank you for your concern. I have not written down a journal, but I will start one immediately, I know this will be helpful. My life has dramatically changed in the past 2 months, after a significant work up, I sometimes think this can all be in my head, but I have never dealt with any type of mental illness and how is the weight coming off if I am eating as normal as ever, if not more. i will keep you posted.

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2 replies
a2dc2dc | @a2dc2dc | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @becsbuddy "@a2dc2dc Good morning. Sounds like you’re having a very difficult and confusing time. I do agree..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@a2dc2dc Good morning. Sounds like you’re having a very difficult and confusing time. I do agree with @gingerw about keeping a journal very day—it can really help. You sound just like me 2 years ago: confused, nauseated, hair falling out, weight loss, unable to walk without help. It was awful . After an MRI puzzled the local doctors, my husband took me to the university medical center. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Many rheumatologists are knowledgeable about autoimmune, so you might want to add them to your list of who to see.
Have the people around you noticed any changes in you? Is there someone you can talk with?

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Becky,

I am glad that you finally found out what was causing your symptoms. I will definitely add them to my list as soon as possible. I am very confused at this point, because the Doctors think there is an anxiety component to my weight loss and other symptoms. i find it hard to believe, since I am eating 3 times a day and the weight is still coming off. I am seeking counseling as we speak. My wife has noticed that weight has also been significant.

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1 reply
a2dc2dc | @a2dc2dc | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@a2dc2dc I understand how frightening it is to have these symptoms and no answers. I also..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@a2dc2dc I understand how frightening it is to have these symptoms and no answers. I also want to encourage you to journal your symptoms by day and time of day. This will greatly help your physicians. Of course you are frightened that you have a scary diagnosis like cancer. That scares us all. I know you will follow up with your physician and specialists however I'm wondering if you've already consulted with specialists other than oncology? Neuroendocrine specialist? Rheumatologist? Please let us know and do know that we all care very much for you. You have come to the right place online for support.

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Oh thank you so much, I truly love your words. I feel alone sometimes, because the people I love at times feel like it is in my head or just fed up with all the appointments and no results. I have seen the endocrinologist and he did not see or believe there to be anything serious going on besides low Vitamin D levels, Have no seent a Rheumatologist. I will definitively add them to my list of people to talk to.

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1 reply
a2dc2dc | @a2dc2dc | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @kathleenkin "Be sure that you are kind to yourself. Do things you like that make you smile...." + (show)
@kathleenkin

Be sure that you are kind to yourself. Do things you like that make you smile. Having a positive attitude makes a difference. My doctor truly believes I am still alive because of my attitude. I refuse to spend one minute agonizing over when it will get worse. It is what it is and I am in battle mode, but I will enjoy every minute of my life. Hopefully, you doctor networks with with other doctors. Hang in there. Medicine has come a long way. God bless

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Kathleen,

your words are truly inspiring. People like you are what makes hope become real and seeing a walking testimony as yourself is what strengthens our faith!

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1 reply
a2dc2dc | @a2dc2dc | Dec 16, 2019

Hi All,

I am beyond thankful for your advice and kindness.

I am still having some bilateral flank pain, that I went in and had an abdominal x-ray for possible kidney stones, but all came back negative (GRRRR!!) A very good thing but at the same time, no diagnosis. The Xray revealed a large amount of colonic stool and possible constipation.

The pain in my spine, Mid-back and only when I bend down, is still there. This is what scares me the most, since I have not lifted anything that would potentially injure my muscles or spine. Family thinks it is due to posture and or slouching.

Stool is lighter color on some days and very grainy, where it dissolves quite easy, not floaters either.

Doctor seems kind of frustrated at me that I cannot seem to accept that there is nothing wrong with me besides some, minor issues like gastritis, Vitamin D deficient, borderline per-diabetic, border line hyperthyroidism, all sublicinical issues that may or may not be causing these symptoms. Nothing definitive as of now.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @a2dc2dc "Ginger, Thank you for your concern. I have not written down a journal, but I will..." + (show)
@a2dc2dc

Ginger,

Thank you for your concern. I have not written down a journal, but I will start one immediately, I know this will be helpful. My life has dramatically changed in the past 2 months, after a significant work up, I sometimes think this can all be in my head, but I have never dealt with any type of mental illness and how is the weight coming off if I am eating as normal as ever, if not more. i will keep you posted.

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@a2dc2dc I found the journaling to be very helpful. By writing down feelings, or symptoms, I found I could "release" them, and not agonize so much over the causes. Very helpful when we get stressed out! And there have been times when the journaling helped me gain insight into what was bothering me.
Ginger

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kathleenkin | @kathleenkin | Dec 16, 2019

Have they tested you gor gluten intolerance? I started having some of those symptoms and went gluten free and felt a huge relief. Stressing out only makes things worse. Try to calm yourself down and if they haven’t found anything in your Taos, then don’t worry about it. Do the best that you can. Eat good nutritious meals, and if you can’t sleep at night then take naps during the day. The main thing is for you to stop stressing so much. It’s always the fear of the unknown that gets to us. Just try to be more positive and see if that helps

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kathleenkin | @kathleenkin | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @a2dc2dc "Kathleen, your words are truly inspiring. People like you are what makes hope become real and..." + (show)
@a2dc2dc

Kathleen,

your words are truly inspiring. People like you are what makes hope become real and seeing a walking testimony as yourself is what strengthens our faith!

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Thank you. My doctor said I have made it this far because I am so positive. You have to fight cancer by being positive

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kathleenkin | @kathleenkin | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @a2dc2dc "Oh thank you so much, I truly love your words. I feel alone sometimes, because the..." + (show)
@a2dc2dc

Oh thank you so much, I truly love your words. I feel alone sometimes, because the people I love at times feel like it is in my head or just fed up with all the appointments and no results. I have seen the endocrinologist and he did not see or believe there to be anything serious going on besides low Vitamin D levels, Have no seent a Rheumatologist. I will definitively add them to my list of people to talk to.

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You need to be your own advocate. If you show symptoms then by all means get the tests you need to ease your mind. I don’t know how old you are, but I am 75 years old and I know that with age comes certain things. It doesn’t mean it’s terminal, or life-threatening, it’s just old age

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kathleenkin | @kathleenkin | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @a2dc2dc "Ginger, Thank you for your concern. I have not written down a journal, but I will..." + (show)
@a2dc2dc

Ginger,

Thank you for your concern. I have not written down a journal, but I will start one immediately, I know this will be helpful. My life has dramatically changed in the past 2 months, after a significant work up, I sometimes think this can all be in my head, but I have never dealt with any type of mental illness and how is the weight coming off if I am eating as normal as ever, if not more. i will keep you posted.

Jump to this post

Stress can cause weight loss. When I was younger I was down to 88 lbs. I learned to be positive and to enjoy every day. I do not have a weight problem now

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