Cancer, Ulcer really scared

[hmwallace]

ok.  Had a colonoscopy 2 weeks ago for rectal bleeding and bowel changes (diarrhea and constipation).  Came back normal with internal hemmroids.  My stomach problems seem to be getting worse.  Keep having nausea, fatigue, and lately I've been loosing my appetite, sometimes for an entire day.  Needless to say, I've lost weight which is unusual for me.  It all started several months ago when I would get a burning pain in my left upper quadrant soon after having breakfast.  That would be it.  Once a month I would get diarrhea attacks with yellow burning liquid.  The nausea and loss of appetite are fairly new.  Sometimes it helps when I eat and sometimes it doesn't.  I was nauseas all day today from the moment I woke up with stomach pains both in my left upper quadrant and right lower and upper quadrant.  I also can't stop belching.  My PCM gave me some medicine today to reduce the acid in my stomach.  Another problem that I've actually had for a year and is getting a little worse is back pain.  It's actually located in the middle of my back to the right of my spine.  Hurts to the touch.  Can't tell if it's the spine or the area right next to it.  Now I'm worried.  Do I have stomach cancer which has spread to my spine, liver, kidneys or pancreas?  Or vise versa...Spine tumor which has spread to my stomach.  I Read that pain localized in the spine that gets worse with rest, which mine does, is usually a tumor.  One last thing, with the episodes of stomach pain, nausea, and loss of appetite...I will get it for a day or two and then feel better and eat everything in sight.....then boom I get it again.  It is getting worse though and happening more often.  I'm planning on getting an endoscopy and upper GI, also I'm getting an MRI on my spine and a sonogram of my gallbladder.  What are the possibilities that I have cancer?  I had blood work done.  Red and white bloods cells were around 4.2.  My Absolute monocytes where low though.  They were 84L with a range of 200-950.  Could this indicate something?  As I'm typing I have this constant nagging pain in my left upper quadrant, right under my ribs.  It seems as if the symptoms for Stomach cancer and Ulcers are similar.  Are there any specifics that would exclude the possibility of having one?  For example, does one cause constant pain and the other pain that comes and goes?  Does the fact that I have back pain raise red flags?  I'm really scared.  I'm 27 F with two little kids.   Please help.  What could all of this be? Oh yeah, I've also been having these quick pains in my left upper chest and down my arm.  Had a chest xray last month and came back ok.  What causes all the belching and gas like pains?  I don't think my stool is darker in color.  However a couple of weeks ago I noticed little black specks.  I assumed it was broccoli. I know that nobody wants to say it sounds like cancer, but what do you think?  What about pancreatic cancer? The pain in my left upper side won't go away right now.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I can't comment on the probability of cancer without examination.  The best test to evaluate for stomach cancer is the upper endoscopy - which you are having.  

If you are concerned about pancreatic cancer, an abdominal CT can be considered.  If negative, further imaging with an MRI or endoscopic ultrasound can be considered.  

There can be individual variation with the blood counts - by itself it is not diagnostic of a specific disease.  

If there is evidence of blood in the stool, a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy can be considered.

These questions should be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with a GI specialist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_