i have had anxiety for a couple of years now. ive had anxiety attacks and all of that. i have also suffered from health anxiety. it seems to come around every summer. this time my fear is pancreatic cancer. i’m 17 and i know it is unlikely, but that doesn’t stop me from worrying.
i sometimes have pain in my stomach that is super lowkey and more nagging than painful. it is in the upper right quadrant of my stomach. i have been dealing with it for a couple of months now. but, this evening, right where the pain is i discovered a lump type thing. it’s under my skin and it rolls around but it is painful when i put pressure on it. i’m nervous that this is a tumor or even my pancreas that is inflamed or riddled with cancer. my other symptoms include light brown colored stools as well as indigestion if i eat right before bed.
im so nervous and i don’t know what to do now. has anybody ever dealt with this?
Hi there,
I hope everything is doing great there.
First you’re still young to have it and if you’re worried that you might have it the best thing to do is see a Doctor. Furthermore, the symptoms of pancreatic ca are, loss of appetite/ weight, pale color stool, greasy and it floats very hard to flush in the toilet bowl. Jaundice or yellowing of you eyes and skin would be a good indicator also. Try to check with your gastro doctor so he can order some test and labs for you. Lastly, discuss with your doctor about your anxiety disorder its not good sign if you can’t control it. It will lead to other medical problems like stomach ulcer and many more. Hope this can help you.
You should speak to your doctor about your extreme health anxiety. Anxiety can really upset your gut and cause conditions like gastritis, IBS and ulcers. Perhaps your doctor can prescribe you anxiety medication or suggest relaxation therapy..
My anxiety triggered GERD at your age and three years ago at the age of 43 I went on to develop IBS which was again triggered by extreme stress and anxiety.
It is far more likely that your anxiety has upset your stomach. Pancreatic cancer would be extremely rare at your age. If you were riddled with cancer, your symptoms would be far worse than you are describing.
Seeing your doctor will relieve your anxietties This is your best option. Don’t eat before going to bed, This is known tp cause indigestion. Does your pain move about your stomach and do you have episodes of constipation, diarrhoea or loose stools? I had light brown coloured stools with my IBS.
Is it possible that the ‘lump’ you are feeling is your ribcage bone since since your pain is is upper right? Your ribcage has many bones; my doctor told me this when I went to her with extreme ribcage pain. I kept thinking I was feeling lumps when it was actually the bones in my ribcage I am very boney. The area was very tender to the touch. I was diagnosed with costochondritis which was stress induced.
Go to your doctor and do not worry! You are too young for anxieties like this.
Anxiety is most likely causing all of those symptoms. As someone who watched a loved one die from pancreatic cancer, the symptoms were far more extreme. Jaundice, weight loss, anemia. Furthermore, pancreatic is considered a rare cancer and its usually more common in older people so getting it at 17 years old would be crazy. You sound fine. Anxiety can do many scary things to your mind.