Your Symptoms

Hello, please forgive me if I'm being naive but I'm wondering if anyone can help me and let me know your personal stories about when you or your loved one was first diagnosed. I really think that my mom might have pancreatic cancer, and I can't get her to see a doctor.

These are her symptoms:

-no appetite, food adversion
-diarrhea
-nausea
-back pain
-weight loss (not rapid)

she is a heavy smoker (3 packs/day) and has beaten breast cancer last year. 

Please tell me what you think or send me any info. Thank you.

MICHELLE 

Those could by symptoms but they could be symptoms of other things - the symptom that is tell tale is jaundice with no pain in the beginning.  If she were to present to the doc with jaundice/no pain their mind would immediately go to pancreatic cancer. 

You can only do so much -- but try to get her to go check it out.  Best of luck to you.

Michelle,

Please make the appointment for her to see a doctor...then on that day, just pick her up and tell her you are taking her shopping, anywhere...then get her into the doctor's office. I am not kidding. My Dad would NEVER go to a doctor out of fear that came from a bad experience with doctors as a child. He was symptomatic, lost a lot of weight...would not listen to us though we BEGGED him to see a doctor.  After ending up in the emergency room and having emergency surgery at 2:30 AM to remove his lower colon, only to be told he has Stage IV colon cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs.  He is doing well, so far with chemo....but the long of it is, I wish I had just made the damn appointment for him a long time ago and it would have at least prevented it from getting to the stage it is at.

I realize my words probably scare you and I am so sorry for that. Your mom is lucky to have you because you obviously care so much. Don't be afraid that she will be mad or upset with you for making the appointment and tricking her. Regardless of the outcome (her symptoms could be lots of things, and may not be as serious as cancer), she will likely be grateful and possibly relieved.

Sending you prayers and strength.

Michelle,

    I can understand your fears, but yes anyone of those symptons
could be signs for any disease.  Why are you pinpointing
pancreatic cancer, why not gall bladder or something else?  My
only sympton was flank pain or back pain, I could not pinpoint the pain
and I thought I had kidney stones that was causing the pain.  I
went to my doctors and asked for a CT to confirm kidney stones to elevate the
pain.  That one CT showed the mass in my pancrease.  I hope this helps and good luck to you and your mom.

Take care,

Janice<>

I guess I targeted pc only because she matched so many of the symptoms, but you all are right, it could be other diseases. Thank you so much. She is going to see her primary doctor in the morning!!

 Michelle