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Terrified I have pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic Cancer | Last Active: Feb 8, 2023 | Replies (40)

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@colleenyoung

Hi @dharms2000, I can see you are very anxious about the cause of your pain and other symptoms. It's so easy to leap directly to the worst case scenario and ask "is it cancer?" The symptoms you describe are common symptoms to many, many conditions - most of them easy to treat. This isn't to diminish your pain or worry, but to help put it in perspective.

Your symptoms are real and should be taken seriously. And you're doing that and have seen doctors. Your doctors are also taking this seriously, ordering tests and referring you to a gastroenterologist. This is good!
Your blood tests so far seem to rule out serious illness. Good.
You're asking yourself if your worry and stress may be worsening some of your symptoms. Really good question to ask yourself. While your worry may not be the original source, it does rather sound like you are "worrying yourself sick" as they say. I might suggest not searching for a diagnosis on Dr. Google. Instead you might search for ways to de-stress.

Dr. Benzo from Mayo Clinic has some mindful breathing exercises that you can try here: https://www.mayo.edu/research/labs/mindful-breathing/overview

Or you can look up some guided mindful meditations online. If you find your mind racing again, just come back here and you can get tips from members or write down your concerns in the form of questions for your doctor. Sound like a plan?

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Replies to "Hi @dharms2000, I can see you are very anxious about the cause of your pain and..."

Yes! Thank you so much this made me feel a little better. Just trying to stay positive and know that I’m very young and it’s uncommon for that kind of thing to be the case. I just wonder if my billirubin or lipase levels would be abnormal if I have PC or if they would be normal. Also wondering if 13 lipase is too low. And I’d Billirubin 0.40 is bad… any answers would be very helpful.