How many have done this?

[TDJ1970]

My biggest fear is cancer and right now its pancreatic cancer. I am 42 and I weigh 250. I need to lose weight. But one symptom of cancer is weight loss so in a way, I make sure I don't lose it. Does this make sense? I want to drop weight but if scale shows lower than normal my mind races. Any suggestions?

[Cattia]

Could you join a club like weight watchers? That way they would weigh you each week and monitor your weight loss and so you would know it was normal or expected for your diet changes? I eont know where you are in the world, I am in the UK and weight watchers is popular here, also you dont have to be really overweight yo do it, i know lots of people who just wanted to lose a stone or so and it worked really well for them. I am the same with weight loss. I am pretty thin anyway and when I am anxious i lose weight and if anyone comments on it I get really paranoid!

[PennyPanic]

I have the same fear...not good if you think about it because being overweight is not healthy.

[Hohum]

Hi there - I have caught a few of your posts over the last week or so. It sounds like you are on the ol' anxiety roller-coaster right now! You should not let your anxieties and stop you losing weight and getting healthy.

Try to remember that pancreatic cancer is an incredible rare condition. Incidence rates start to go up after age 60, but at 42, the chances of you having it are incredibly small. I know in one of your posts, you mentioned reading that Patrick Swayze reportedly had a symptom that you also have so you had made the link to pancreatic cancer fear. This is absolutely, 100% your health anxiety talking.

Have you spoken to your Doctor about your symptoms?

[cbuttle45]

I did the same thing for a while was happywhen i gained and i am obese so i joined weight watchers and watch what i eat they way me once a week and i stay away from the scale at home that seems to help. And patrick swasye was a big drinker which is a big risk factor for pancratic cancer.

[marc]

My GI physician told me that pancreatic cancer is typically a disease of the elderly. He also said that
smoking and drinking increase your risk to some extent.

[TDJ1970]

Marc or anyone - would a doc even suspect PC at all if someone my age went in with sudden acid reflux?

[Hohum]

I really don't think any doctor would make an immediate jump from reflux to pancreatic cancer. As the old medical adage goes, "when you hear hoofbeats, look for horses not zebras"! No good doctor would rule anything out either, but they would certainly look at the common causes of reflux first.

[sarahsarah]

The thing about weight loss and cancer is that UNEXPLAINED weight loss is sometimes a symptom of cancer. If you are actively trying to lose weight, well then it's not unexplained right? I understand the pancreatic cancer fear (I fear it too since someone in my family had it), and I know it's easier said than done, but any doctor would tell you that's it's much better to think of all the health benefits you gain by losing weight, rather than staying overweight just based on an irrational fear.