Welcome to Cancer Chat Chris.

It's great that the tests you have had have come back clear but I'm sure many of our members will understand the frustration you're experiencing from not knowing what could be causing these symptoms.

Have you mentioned to your GP that your aunt passed away from pancreatic cancer? It may be worth mentioning this when you see them on Monday if you haven't. Also, if you feel like your GP is not listening to your concerns is there another GP at your surgery you could book an appointment with to ask for a second opinion? I'm not sure what time your appointment is on Monday but our cancer nurses hotline is open from 9a.m (freephone 0808 800 4040) that day so do give them a call if you think chatting to them about this will help.

I hope your appointment goes well on Monday Chris and we'll have our fingers crossed you're able to get your CT scan.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Worriedchris32. Welcome to the forum.

I'm not a doctor, but I have suffered from IBS since about the age of 24. I'm 64 now.

Pancreatic cancer in someone aged 32 is incredibly rare, and IBS is very common. I know from personal experience that IBS is exacerbated by stress, and possibly the stress of your aunt dying has planted this fear of pancreatic cancer in your mind. The pains, the tiredness and the irregular bowel movements are all part of IBS (I have them all). What if you were referred for a CT or MRI and it comes back clear; would you finally be reassured, or would you continue to press for more tests?

As I say, I'm not a doctor but it seems to me that your GP has done all due diligence to eliminate pancreatic cancer. Would you feel happier if another GP reviewed your case and gave you a second opinion? 

I suggest you're doing too much Googling, and you've now got a bad case of Confirmation Bias. You're looking for anything that will confirm your idea that you've got pancreatic cancer, despite the fact that you're simply too young. 

We've all be there at times, but there is no comfort to be found going down that road; what you will find is pain, fear, and stress. That's why it's time to stop Googling and wait and see what the doctor says. 

I know. I was trying to stick to just the proper well known sites for correct information, but the dental thing just stuck out and seems a coincidence with having these issues at the same time. 

No doubt my doctor will think this is a bit crazy when I explain to him about it tomorrow.  I'll stay off google though and see what he says. 

You've probably read  "that men with a history of periodontal disease had a 64 per cent increased risk of pancreatic cancer than men with no such history."

Now 64% sounds massive, but you have to put it in context. Pancreatic cancer between ages 30-34 has an incidence of 1 in 100,000.  So, if we accept the 64% increased risk, that simply means the risk rises to 1.64 in 100,000.

In other words, a tiny risk is still tiny, even when it's nearly doubled. 

When you're a patient it's really difficult to establish the quality and true impact of medical information. It's one of the reasons why Googling your symptoms isn't really a good idea. You naturally pick on the bad points and always expand them to a worst case scenario.  I did this when I was first diagnosed with cancer, and I learned the error of my ways the hard way.  I am now much more choosy in the sites I visit and much more cynical and sceptical when I read medical research.

So, no more Googling. Chill out and enjoy the snow. Good luck tomorrow when you see the doctor. 

Yeah that is pretty much what I've read. When you put it like that it does still seem highly unlikely. Thanks. The 64% just makes it sound very likely. I guess I was more thinking of it as a cause and effect sort of thing, like having gum disease would cause pancreatic cancer so therefore I must have caused it.

Anyway I'm not looking up anything else and will see what the doctor thinks tomorrow. For what it's worth the dentist didn't think there were any issues when I explained all this to her last week. 

Thanks for your help and thoughts and I hope you are doing well after your own cancer 

Hi.

Yes, I'm doing fine, thanks. My cancer was caught early. I had surgery and I've been OK for the last 7 years. Still have regular blood tests, though, so there's always a little twinge of anxiety when they come round. 

Let us know what the doctor says. 

Thats good I'm glad you are doing fine now after it, apart from the anxiety around the blood tests. I get that even without a cancer history so can only imagine.

I'll update after my appointment

Hi Chris

I know you posted a while back but was just wondering how are you feeling now, did you get a reason why you were feeling so ill? I'm going tru same myself since February this year and am scared out of my mind, going for ultrasound next week, would be great to know how you got on,did you go for the c.t and did it put your mind at rest