Expert: Juliet Seigle, MD - 1/21/2008

Question
Hello, I am a 22 yr old male. 6 ft tall and weight 180. I've been having these stomach problems for about 2 to 3 years now.  Kathaleen and others know me here, if you would like to see my last posts that I had a long time ago just search my name "cookienkikin" and they will pull up. Anyhow I'm still having the pain that I've always had I thought it was getting better but I guess I was just ignoring it and dealing with it, I wake up EVERYDAY with the pain in my stomach and its always hurting. Churning and gurgling. It hurts alot worse when I don't eat. Still hurts when I eat though, its always rumbling and just cramping and hurting.  Most of the time I have a really bad taste in my mouth also. I sometimes/rarely burp up stomach contents like it would be reflux, not very often though.  My stools are rarely normal, they usually are very loose, and have a light brown/pale color to them and are just all broken up, (not normal) and most of the time float. Around 3 years ago I had ct scan, blood work, abdominal ultrasound, and barium swallow. My main concern is stomach cancer, or esophagal cancer, would any of my symptoms fit any one of those descriptions?  Could my stomach problems be just gastritis or something else that could eventually cause stomach or esophagal cancer? Should I be really concerned about this?

Answer
Michael,

Your problems do not sound like esophageal or stomach cancer.  These usually occur in much older people. Either cancer would nearly always progress and become obvious, clearly declaring itself as cancer, over the two to three years you have been having problems.  They do not cause loose stool or other problems in the lower intestine.  

I strongly suggest you see a gastroenterologist, who is a specialist in disorders of the GI tract.  This individual would likely want to do upper and lower endoscopy, in which a detailed examination can be done of your entire GI system, including esophagus, stomach, small and large bowel.  This generally can be done in about an hour and a half with sedatives during the procedure.  You should be tested for H. pylori infection, which is a bacterium that can cause irritation/ulceration of the stomach/small bowel.  I do not think that 'ignoring it and dealing with it' is sufficient at this point.  Why endure this kind of discomfort when you may be able to find out what is going on and do something about it?  You would not want to be overlooking something that is potentially serious and treatable.  

Good luck,

J. Seigle, MD