Pancreatic Cancer fear, stool

Bobnnat · Dec 3, 2019

What you describe is not the color of stool that you associate with PC. Light. medium, dark brown are all normal and generally are affected by what you've eaten. Yellow color generally just means the waste has moved through your system quickly, which can be a bug or simply stress, or...for a reason that you'll never know and don't need to know.

I've of course feared PC. What self respecting HA sufferer hasn't? Last time I had pains (muscle as usual) and asked the doctor. He said come back and see me after you've dropped 25 pounds in a week.

MainerMikeBrown · Dec 3, 2019

It's not TMI, 4bready. Talking about medical issues is what we're here for.

kristinelorraine · Dec 3, 2019

hi 4bready. i used to have the same PC fear as you. my stools are also light, yellowish brown. im also gassy and bloated.
i did all the test bloodwork, ultrasound, ct-scan. everything is normal.
the members here are correct. fast transit which could be triggered by anxiety, stress, ibs, acid reflux could cause light colored yellowish stools.
it would be concerning if you are jaundiced or losing too much weight like bobnnat said. but if not, there's nothing to worry about.

Scared1234 · Dec 16, 2019

4bready said:
Hi guys,
I'm on a cancer fear loop. I have had new, neck and scapulas pain on left side, and my stool color fluctuates between a very light brown and yellowish color. I read about pancreatic cancer and I am scared. I am 44 male and battled health anxiety for a long long time. I have a fear I will not see my kids grow up
ANyone have similar cancer fear with stool. Sorry if TMI

I’m also having the same fear. Any updates on how you’re doing?

Hurt&Hopeful · Dec 16, 2019

Not TMI - don't worry about it. Light stool can be something you ate, like others have said, or it can also be bowel irritation caused by stress. Like someone mentioned above, when it all just run through you too fast.

I sometimes get that way when I'm really anxious. Neck and scapula pain can definitely be stress/tension as well.

kristinelorraine · Dec 16, 2019

i have a question with PC, the stools has to be constant white, pale color and not fluctuating between pale then brown?
does the stool always stays pale, clay colored in PC?

Scared1234 · Dec 16, 2019

kristinelorraine said:
i have a question with PC, the stools has to be constant white, pale color and not fluctuating between pale then brown?
does the stool always stays pale, clay colored in PC?

I’m not sure on that. I would assume they would always be pale because it’s from the tumor blocking the bile duct. I wouldn’t think it would block it some days and not others.
I know the last time I had a huge PC scare, I had completely white stools. I’d never seen anything like it. It was on a weekend and I went to the ER bc I was so scared. I was hoping they would do a CT scan and check. I ended up having gallbladder issues and the dr said that was why they were white. But... it was the ONLY white stools I had. Never had them again and I eventually had my gallbladder removed a few weeks after that.
I’m on a huge PC scare right now and I’m just praying it’s anxiety, mixed with reflux and gastritis, and nothing more serious!!

kristinelorraine · Dec 16, 2019

Scared1234 said:
I’m not sure on that. I would assume they would always be pale because it’s from the tumor blocking the bile duct. I wouldn’t think it would block it some days and not others.
I know the last time I had a huge PC scare, I had completely white stools. I’d never seen anything like it. It was on a weekend and I went to the ER bc I was so scared. I was hoping they would do a CT scan and check. I ended up having gallbladder issues and the dr said that was why they were white. But... it was the ONLY white stools I had. Never had them again and I eventually had my gallbladder removed a few weeks after that.
I’m on a huge PC scare right now and I’m just praying it’s anxiety, mixed with reflux and gastritis, and nothing more serious!!

i know what you mean. i recently had a 'whitest' stool i have ever seen in my life. it stayed for two days and now it's gone.
i'm not really sure if it's pure white but it's definitely very pale.
i just had my bloodwork done in my doctor's office and also in the ER (they also did the amylase and lipase blood check for the pancreas), ct-scan with contrast, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy and everything turned out good. now im thinking if the doctors might missed something or is there anymore test that i need to do? my stools are now back to soft, mushy yellowish-brown color. i miss the days where my stools are just firm normal dark brown color. sorry for the tmi.

Scared1234 · Dec 16, 2019

I understand! I just want everything to be like it’s supposed to be so I don’t have to worry!! I haven’t had any testing done this round. I’ve had a Pancreatic Scare two other times in the past 6 years. I’ve also had two friends pass away from it. I wish I had more detailed info from them on what it felt like, areas that were painful, etc. But everything you search for online can point to PC! The first scare I had a ct scan and ultrasound and it was my gallbladder. 2nd scare, the GI dr did a scope on me and found a small hiatal hernia and gastritis. That was about 2 years ago. This time, I haven’t gone to the dr. I normally am running there pretty quickly. I’m not sure if I’m holding back because it will be bad news this time, because I’m worried I’ll get blown off and not get any answers, or if it’s because I don’t want to hear bad news right before Christmas and ruin the holiday for my kids!
And.... of my two friends who passed away from Pc.... one was found on an ultra sound and the other on a CT Scan. One was in early 40’s and one mid 50’s. So. It’s of them were on the young end. I’m not quite 40, so I know it would be more rare, but not impossible!

Bearcat999 · Dec 16, 2019

kristinelorraine said:
i know what you mean. i recently had a 'whitest' stool i have ever seen in my life. it stayed for two days and now it's gone.
i'm not really sure if it's pure white but it's definitely very pale.
i just had my bloodwork done in my doctor's office and also in the ER (they also did the amylase and lipase blood check for the pancreas), ct-scan with contrast, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy and everything turned out good. now im thinking if the doctors might missed something or is there anymore test that i need to do? my stools are now back to soft, mushy yellowish-brown color. i miss the days where my stools are just firm normal dark brown color. sorry for the tmi.

That can happen if a gallstone is blocking the duct, then passes through. With a tumor it would remain white.

kristinelorraine said:
i know what you mean. i recently had a 'whitest' stool i have ever seen in my life. it stayed for two days and now it's gone.
i'm not really sure if it's pure white but it's definitely very pale.
i just had my bloodwork done in my doctor's office and also in the ER (they also did the amylase and lipase blood check for the pancreas), ct-scan with contrast, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy and everything turned out good. now im thinking if the doctors might missed something or is there anymore test that i need to do? my stools are now back to soft, mushy yellowish-brown color. i miss the days where my stools are just firm normal dark brown color. sorry for the tmi.

Remember, you are talking about YOUR whitest stool. Not a pure white stool. But actually it can be temporary in some instance.
1- a gallstone blocked the flow and moved out of the way.
2- Your gallbladder has been removed. In that instance your body is dumping bile, not storing it, so it's kind of a matter of timing.

kristinelorraine · Dec 16, 2019

Bearcat999 said:
That can happen if a gallstone is blocking the duct, then passes through. With a tumor it would remain white.

Remember, you are talking about YOUR whitest stool. Not a pure white stool. But actually it can be temporary in some instance.
1- a gallstone blocked the flow and moved out of the way.
2- Your gallbladder has been removed. In that instance your body is dumping bile, not storing it, so it's kind of a matter of timing.

hi, thanks for the info. i didn't get my gallbladder removed. i did numerous tests but they all came out negative. (bloodwork, ct-scan with contrast, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, stool occult test, urine test)
is there any other test i need to do to ease my mind? i'm just worried the doctors might missed something in my tests and my symptoms might be something else. (constant gas, burping, pale-light stool, stomach cramps)

Bearcat999 · Dec 16, 2019

kristinelorraine said:
hi, thanks for the info. i didn't get my gallbladder removed. i did numerous tests but they all came out negative.
is there any other test i need to do to ease my mind? i'm just worried the doctors might missed something in my tests and my symptoms might be something else. (constant gas, burping, pale-light stool, stomach cramps)

The CT scan would not have missed a pancreas or liver issue. An ultrasound can detect them, but a CT scan is the gold standard. Honestly, to me it sounds like when I have an IBS flare up.

kristinelorraine · Dec 16, 2019

Bearcat999 said:
The CT scan would not have missed a pancreas or liver issue. An ultrasound can detect them, but a CT scan is the gold standard. Honestly, to me it sounds like when I have an IBS flare up.

i was thinking it could be ibs too as i always have to rush every morning to the bathroom. but the pale stool is what giving me anxiety.
my stools are always soft like it crumbles easily when dropped in water. it's mostly light-yellowish brown but last week it was very, very pale like almost white. it stayed for 2 days but now it's back to being light-yellowish brown again. im so depressed over this. i dont know what test i should to do ease my mind.
im scheduled for a colonoscopy in january but it's my pancreas that's giving me the anxiety right now.

Scared1234 · Dec 17, 2019

I haven’t had a CT scan done in a few years now and I’m wondering if I should request one? Today has been a better day, as far as the burning sensation, pains, etc. Do you have any other symptoms that’s worrying you? Or just the stools?
I have some pains in my ribs and back and with that and the burning in my tummy—it’s set my anxiety over something bad to be over the top!
I hear about pain “below” the ribs with PC. But what I don’t know and maybe someone else does—-is that pain below where the ribs end or do they mean below as in “under” the ribs? I currently have a little bit of both. But I would think below (as in under where the ribs end), would be kinda too low for pancreas pain?
Where my back has been bothering me, I have a knot. So I’m hoping that’s all that’s causing the issue. I have about 2-3 spots of tight knots and the areas of pain tend to be close to those spots.
Any ideas would be appreciated!!

kristinelorraine · Dec 17, 2019

right now, im experiencing stomach cramps, dull pain on the lower left side of abdomen, constant burping and gas and light, yellowish stools.
i also lose some weight but maybe because i'm avoiding lots of foods as it's causing me stomach cramps/ discomfort. (bread, dairy, citrus, fried, spicy, chocolates, caffeine).

i used to have pain below my ribs on the left side. but now it went away. i'm having stomach cramps now and lower left abdominal dull pain.
and i could sometimes feel a mild contraction like there was some gas or trapped air moving around in my colon/pelvic area.

Hurt&Hopeful · Dec 18, 2019

kristinelorraine said:
right now, im experiencing stomach cramps, dull pain on the lower left side of abdomen, constant burping and gas and light, yellowish stools.
i also lose some weight but maybe because i'm avoiding lots of foods as it's causing me stomach cramps/ discomfort. (bread, dairy, citrus, fried, spicy, chocolates, caffeine).

i used to have pain below my ribs on the left side. but now it went away. i'm having stomach cramps now and lower left abdominal dull pain.
and i could sometimes feel a mild contraction like there was some gas or trapped air moving around in my colon/pelvic area.

Oof, this sounds like the irritable bowel I sometimes get when my anxiety spikes. I'm sorry you're going through it. You are doing right by avoiding inflammatory foods, but you might need to see a doctor if it keeps up. Hope it gets better!

kristinelorraine · Dec 18, 2019

Hurt&Hopeful said:
Oof, this sounds like the irritable bowel I sometimes get when my anxiety spikes. I'm sorry you're going through it. You are doing right by avoiding inflammatory foods, but you might need to see a doctor if it keeps up. Hope it gets better!

thanks for easing my mind. i am scheduled for a colonoscopy on january. i hope it is just ibs. my stool now is alternating between soft, diarrhea and constipated.

Scared1234 · Dec 18, 2019

My chiropractor said I have a run out of place. He had a name for it, but I can’t recall what it was. Im
Hopeful that is what is causing the burning in my ribs and the random pings I feel in my abdomen and back.
Good luck with your colonoscopy.
Rib out of place, not run! Sorry!

kristinelorraine · Dec 18, 2019

Scared1234 said:
My chiropractor said I have a run out of place. He had a name for it, but I can’t recall what it was. Im
Hopeful that is what is causing the burning in my ribs and the random pings I feel in my abdomen and back.
Good luck with your colonoscopy.
Rib out of place, not run! Sorry!

thanks. how do you describe your random pings in the abdomen and back? like poking and stabbing?

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