Just heard last night that Patrick Swayze has pancreatic cancer. One of the symptoms is abdominal pain, which I've been dealing with lately, so of course I had to google pancreatic cancer.

I'm so sick of even the brief flashes of "OMG is that what I have?" that go through my brain whenever I hear or read about some new disease or symptom that someone else has. When did I start doing this? I hate to use the phrase "that's not me" because obviously it is now, but really...that's not me! It doesn't take me to long to calm down and at least act rational but this change in my personality really bothers me. It feels very doom and gloom and I like to think of myself as optimistic. This is definitely NOT optimistic.

Am I the only nut roll in the candy store? Does anybody else go through this?

Never fear. Almost all of us go through this health anxiety at one time or another. Annoying isn't it? Recognizing you have this problem is half of the battle. If you are worried about a particular symptom then have it checked out by your doctor.

I heard on the news that pancreatic cancer predominatly affects African American men over the age of 70. Since you are in meno, or at least on this board, I seriously doubt you fit that profile Relax!

Shakin'

O.K. so you got me on this one.

I don't want to scare anyone, but my MIL just had surgery for this cancer. Her surgery is a fairly new procedure and wasn't as invasive as the typical surgery for this cancer. It is rare, and the research isn't very well funded for this type of cancer. Maybe Patrick Swayze and Pavarotti will bring attention to it more. But I do worry now that my husband and children will get it. There are some symptoms if you google it, and my MIL did have some vague symptoms but she's not one to have symptoms checked out. Let's hope that more research will be done for this.

Frisbee

chocolatewoman,

You are so not alone in this. I have become a cyber-chondriac too. I hear of some illness (and news about illness is EVERYWHERE) and I compare my symptoms to those. If there is anything resembling a match in my mind, then off go the bells and I'm riding the anxiety roller coaster again. Sometimes I even re-visit illnesses that I had previously 'ruled out'!!

I have been trying really hard not to google symptoms anymore. I managed to avoid it today even though I'm upset about Patrick Swayze (I really like him). But I did it yesterday hoping to 'rule out' something else.

How do we get off this ride? I really can't take it any more. It is making me a crazy person. I get so depressed by it and it takes up WAY TO MUCH of my time. I can't even get any work done because I'm so busy thinking about what might be wrong with me, how will I manage it, what does it mean for my future life, etc. etc.

The only thing that brings me any relief from this is finding symptoms that don't match mine and then I breath a sigh of relief. It's just nuts.

Oh my gosh, the exact same thought went through my mind when I read about Patrick Swayze. My stomach pain has been worse this week and I keep wondering what horrible disease I have now. I've been thinking I have kidney failure (from pain in my back), stomach cancer and now pancreatic cancer. I've had a tearing sensation in my lower abdomen and have no idea what is causing that but I'm thinking uterine or ovarian cancer.
You are not alone.
Susan

Is it genetic? A good friend of mine had an aunt die recently from pancreatic cancer. She was 65, ate healthy, a non-smoker....After I heard about her, I did some googling and found that pancreatic cancer is more predominant in Jews.

I always thought it was linked to heavy alcohol consumption, but I just did some more googling and here are the risk factors:

Cigarette smoking (one of the biggest risk factors), age (60-80 more affected), race (African-American), gender (more common in males), chronic pancreatitus, diabetes, peptic ulcer surgery and diet.

I remember that Michael Landon died from it.

I hope your MIL does well. Cancer research changes almost on a daily basis - thank goodness.

One more thing -

You are definitely not alone in your google searching. "Pancreatic Cancer" is one of the Top 10 searches today.

I'll know it's a good day when "chocolate" is a Top 10 search. I'm going to hold it together until then.

Love your "signature" by the way. There's a cupcake in my immediate future!

I googled pancreatic cancer last night too. I think we are ok. When I saw a gastro guy a few years back he said I would have a lot of symptoms and know something is terribly wrong. This Heath anxiety goes with the territory. Go see you gastro and express your fears.

I don't think it is genetic, from what I've heard. My MIL had none of the risk factors--not a drinker, not overweight, not Jewish, no diabetes. She had gone in for her pre-op visit for another minor surgery and they found it. I think her diet could have been better--she wasn't big on fruits and vegetables. She ate out a lot--lots of sandwiches as I recall. She's in her 80's and her mother passed on from another form of cancer (which I can't recall).

Thank you for your thoughts. Her doctor is optimistic. She was hesitant about the surgery but her tumor had shrunk afer treatment and he said she had a good chance of recovering. She's just trying to regain her appetite now.

Frisbee

Frisbee

I have been going through health anxiety too ....but I DO think that is partly becasue no doctor has yet said..."Hey, don't worry, I believe you are experiencing perimenopause symptoms and in a few years it will all be a bad memory"....


SO, in the meantime I worry I have everything....but it is especially troubling when you wake up every morning with something new...today my eye are really saggin down and last night my finger all of them, itched so much it woke me up! I had a really good glass of red wine last night, and in my more sane moments may attribute these symptoms to that....but I NEVER had then before.....and now my vision has gone blurry the last few days...what would you think......let's just hope it is all meno......yes, anxiety! Joan

I am an event planner for our University here in Birmingham, Alabama. Our medical center hosts an annual dinner for the UAB Pancreatic Cancer Center. There is much money being granted, at least here in Birmingham, for this research. I am so sorry about your mother -in-law. It is true that it occurs more often in men than women and the symptoms can be very vague. Hopefully this is one more disease much like Ovarian cancer that we can help fund for better screenings and and cures.

I went to the Dr today because I was worried about ovarian cancer. I have had a friend die recently at age 48 and I also know far too many people that have been diagnosed. I got a complete pelvic and ultrasound with a very good report.He did notice a thickening of the lining of my uterus but this is common I believe. he may give me something to bring on my period to flush it out. I have had really annoying lower back pain and he said this coul be from my uterus. Anyone gone through this? The trip to the r. made me feel so much better. I will probably get a ultasound every 6-8 months just to make me feel better.

Provo, does this mean that an ultrasound would show ovarian cancer if a woman had it? I had one a short while ago and all they saw were cysts. Hopefully, this will be one thing I can cross off my list. As for gastro stuff, I have been that route so many times. I hate my gastro's office. He is supposed to be one of the best in Denver and all I ever get is one of his underlings. I have to beg and threaten to see him. On the upside, one of his underling docs is pretty hot. I don't ask for much, do I? None of these docs has ever mentioned peri, btw. Big surprise.

I hate feeling like a perpetual patient. I liked it better when avoidance behavior was my main tactic for dealing with my problems.

Thanks for sharing that all is well with you. It is always good to hear that from anyone here.

It is not 100% but pretty damn close. My back is really acheing though. he said that could be my uterus and all the buildup or arhtritis, or muscle starin. I remember my back always hurt before my perios. I think the gyno is the one to talk to about hormones and peri. Niteowl turned me onto a GREAT website. Called Herplace.com Check it out. I am orering the books by Dr Elizabeth Vliet. Tell me what you think.
Louisa

Thanks so much for your thoughts, Provobabe. It's good to know that money is being raised for this. Her doctor is more cutting edge than most out there it seems, so we're all cautiously optimistic. Yes, I definitely hope there will be better screenings for this.

Chocolate,

My daughter mentioned that about Patrick Swayze yesterday and the first thing that went through my mind was, "Could I have that?"

I have to leave the room when the health/medicine commercials come on the TV. I NEVER google illnesses anymore. I learned that lesson long ago.

However, I have been googling NSAIDS recently. My doctor wants me to take them for about a week to ease the inflammation in my sciatic nerve. I bought Advil, Aleve, and Motrin. I have sat there with a pill in my hand, just looking at it, and don't dare to take it. I guess I'd rather be in pain than risk what may happen to me if I dare to take even one of them. (I'm sure this sounds ridiculous even to those of you who have the health anxiety. )

I think you have a lot of nut rolls right there with you in that candy store!

dmar, maybe you can get a friend to sit with you while you take the NSAIDS the first time, or maybe you can go back to your doc's office and take them in front of a nurse. Explain to them what you feel when you just THINK about taking them, and perhaps they will be sympathetic and help you out. I think there is a psychological aspect to treatments for physical ailments that shouldn't be ignored--pill phobias, etc. Good luck. I hope you find some way to get some relief.

sickness du jour, my favorite topic , NOT, I obsess and I'm sick of it. When will it end ?

Moozie

Chocolate,
I just responded to a post from you about needing some support and then I come here and find you GIVING ME SUPPORT! Isn't PS a wonderful place to be?!

I like your idea and I have talked to the nurse about it. She basically told me they have to put all those warnings on the container because of the very slim possibility that someone could be adversely affected by the medicine. Then she told me that the choice was mine to either live with the pain or take the pills. I don't know what I think might happen if I actually swallow one 200mg Advil or Motrin, but the health anxiety is SO REAL for me right now. It doesn't bother me at all to take a Tylenol, extra-strength, 500 mg. tablet. The only problem is, Tylenol doesn't touch inflammation.

Someone on another forum mentioned her husband taking grape seed extract for joint pain. Does anyone else know anything about it?

Thanks, Chocolate, for your concern and I sure hope you feel better very soon!

Take care,
Deb