How Worried Should I Be? Might have pancreatic cancer

Hi you have not been diagnosed w/cancer yet just a big cyst and cystic in nature means it is not a cancer tumor but a cyst. Cystic in etiology is a good thing. The next thing to do is get an endoscopic ultrasound and a small needle can do a biopsy. it is common to have a cyst in pancreas and it could or not be cancer. Ive been though it as well as my daughter an MD at UCLA (internal medicine and Geriatric MD) She has explained all this to me as well as my Doctor at UCLA Santa Monica.
I have pancreatic cancer recurrence with mets in lungs so I hear you. Ive had surgery chemo and 3 years no cancer but it came back so 5 years since the first cancer . Worrying just makes it worse but it's a stage we go through. My father died 6 weeks after he was diagnosed stage 4 pancreatic cancer. It was
in 1988 when you were told was just go home and die. However many people with Stage four are survivers up to 20 years. So don't panic There is recovery from it even if you have stage 4. I have had 2 years of recurrence with no treatment luckily, it grew only in lung a few micro-millimeters. Good luck with all!

It is easy to read about the negative things online...so don't. Read the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) and other reliable sources you will find from members of this group. There is always hope and Pancreatic Cancer research is on the forefront these days. Immunological treatments seem to be offering more options. I am metastatic but I love life and every day I gain is one more for the research to catch up.

Keep on doing what you are doing. Thank goodness For your positive and healthy attitude!! Your mind and body definitely need to work together. God bless you

EUS scheduled for 06/24/22…met doc that is doing procedure and she stated it’s a fluid filled cyst and that I shouldn’t worry, easier said than done of course.

I’m with you on that stay positive

Hi @annabelle61, I can understand you're scared. Don't put the cart before the horse. Make sure you get all the information from your doctor before jumping to the worst case scenario.

According to this article from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatic-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20375993
"Most pancreatic cysts aren't cancerous, and many don't cause symptoms. But some pancreatic cysts can be or can become cancerous. Your doctor might take a sample of the pancreatic cyst fluid to determine if cancer cells are present. Or your doctor might recommend monitoring a cyst over time for changes that indicate cancer."

When do you meet with your doctor to discussed the results of your tests?

TY for the info. My EUS is scheduled for tomorrow and I am terrified I won’t survive that. I have pain, burping, nausea, fatty lose stool for my symptoms.

I am not jaundice and have not lost any weight. My gastro is hoping for a good outcome as am I, but it doesn’t look good at this point.

Please be hopeful and have faith We will be praying for you. Let us all know
Sincerely Susan

TY for the support.

EUS was completed yesterday. Lesion smaller than what I was originally advised (1.8 cm vs 2.3 cm) it’s in the tail vs the body, totally fluid, drained 3 cc’s of clear fluid from it…now I wait 😢

Gastro didn’t seem worried so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Gastro also biopsied 2 polyps from stomach and an irritated spot in esophagus…no doubt about it when I go I go big.

Dear Annabelle
This really is better news than you expected !!! The doctor sounds very hopeful so you should be as well !! I hope you are feeling much better now. We will all still pray that everything will be ok Enjoy the day
Sincerely Susan