What symptoms promted you to go to the doctor?

Hi, I am new here. My name is Danielle, I am 26 years old. I have been having stomach problems since November 08, however, I put off going to the doctor because I was afraid. I made excuses becuase I was too busy and did not want to have to go thru all the testing before my upcoming wedding. After the wedding I decided it was time to visit the doctor... they did alot of bloodwork and have finally referred me to a GI Specialist. I had my consult yesterday where they have scheduled me for an Endoscopy and a colonoscopy. The tests are not for another month and I am so anxious and worried.

My sypmtoms started with diarrhea and have slowly progressed. I am now having pain in my left side (both upper and lower abdomen) pretty much constantly, although it gets worse after eating a meal. I also have occasional pain in my upper mid & right-abdomen. 4 years ago I had my gallbladder and my appendix taken out.

I pray for everyone who has cancer or has been affected by a loved one who has cancer.

I was wondering if you would share your stories of what symptoms you had that made you visit the doctor before you were diagnosed with stomach cancer?

On 8/12/2009 Danielle82 wrote:

Hi, I am new here. My name is Danielle, I am 26 years old. I have been having stomach problems since November 08, however, I put off going to the doctor because I was afraid. I made excuses becuase I was too busy and did not want to have to go thru all the testing before my upcoming wedding. After the wedding I decided it was time to visit the doctor... they did alot of bloodwork and have finally referred me to a GI Specialist. I had my consult yesterday where they have scheduled me for an Endoscopy and a colonoscopy. The tests are not for another month and I am so anxious and worried.

My sypmtoms started with diarrhea and have slowly progressed. I am now having pain in my left side (both upper and lower abdomen) pretty much constantly, although it gets worse after eating a meal. I also have occasional pain in my upper mid & right-abdomen. 4 years ago I had my gallbladder and my appendix taken out.

I pray for everyone who has cancer or has been affected by a loved one who has cancer.

I was wondering if you would share your stories of what symptoms you had that made you visit the doctor before you were diagnosed with stomach cancer?

Hi Danielle,

 My name is Shawn and I was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer last March.  MY symptoms were really bad stomach pains, not able to keep food down,weight loss.  I finally went in to the hospital to get checked out.  They did and endoscopy and colonoscopy  and took some biopsies and they came back positive for stomach cancer.  I did the same thing.. I waited before I finally went in.  I wished I wouldn't have, but that's the past.  I will pray that you do not have stomach cancer.  It is a very scary disease and the outcome isn't very good.  Though you are very young and if you do have it; you have better chance of beating it than most who get, but enough of that, cuz you don't even know yet.. Hopefully, it's just an ulcer or something less serious..  I will keep you in my prayers and please let us know here what they find..  God Bless and LIVESTRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shawn

Unfortunately I waited until I had upper GI blood in my stool, but my symptoms started with difficulty swallowing and I had heartburn most of my adult life.

Symptoms for my 43 year old wife who was diagnosed with Stage IV in March of 07 and is currently in remission (no signs of any cancers); she had acute stomach pain right at her GI junction after eating a few spicy meals.  Originally she was misdiagnosed (common) but we were not satisfied and post a CT Scan that did not reveal anything according to the lazy technician that read it she had an endoscopy with biopsies that came back positive for stomach cancer; later scans showed a small tumor in her liver.

She went through 6 months of chemo and was cancer free after 4 months.  She remains on an oral chemo (Xeloda) today and remains negative for any cancers.

Hope it is something else but keep pushing until they find out what it is.  Pain is an indicator that something is wrong.  Keep asking, if your diagnosis is NOT correct, what else could it be...

Steve (akamomwithkids)