I don't mean to sound like a hypochondriac, but I'm wondering if I should be concerned about cancer. I've been sick now with stomach issues for a month. I've had nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and I can hear and feel my stomach gurgling. I have a pain below my sternum and this can last from minutes to hours. I went to my college's health service and was given pills (AcipHex) for acid reflux since I've had trouble with heart burn in the past. The doctor was also concerned with the level of stress I'm under. The pills were only for 10 days, and I ran out over a week ago: the symptoms are still here even though my eating had become more regular and the diarrhea only comes once in a while. I've been told this potentially could be a peptic ulcer. I have another doctor's appointment with an intestinal problems specialist on Friday.

But the thing that is starting to worry me is that I seem to be getting weaker. I'm on my college's track and field team. The workouts we had a month and a half ago went pretty well. A month and a half ago I didn't feel the best, but the last month has been really tough and I've felt ill every day. We're doing about the same workouts and I can barely finish them. It's like I have no strength left and am exhausted after a short amount of time. This is my third year out for track and I've never struggled like this before: not even during the transition from high school to college. It's progressively getting worse. I've also been getting regular headaches that last for hours over the past week.

The reason I'm concerned is that I do have a family history of cancer. My grandfather died from colon cancer, my uncle recently died from stomach cancer, and my dad had skin cancer but treated it; the same with his brother who successfully treated prostate cancer (even though I don't have to worry about that). I thought maybe this was an ulcer, but I don't know why then I'd be feeling so weak and getting the headaches. Even since you're not a doctor, from what you know about cancer is this something to take into consideration that this may in fact be cancerous?

Most likely a product of stress.

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Poor little tin man, still swinging his axe,
Even though his joints are clogged with rust.

This is easily cured with antibiotics but your doctor should investigate all possibilities.  Stress is really tough on the digestive system.

Wish you good health.

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Stress is really tough on the digestive system.

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This is SO true that I just wanted to quote and reiterate it.

I understand your fears due to your family history but I doubt it's cancer. I'm no doctor but it would make sense that you body is perhaps weaker now because you've been getting sicker. Your body is trying to fight off it's problems and that usually expends a whole lot of energy. Just how when you get sick with anything you feel weaker, don't want to move, etc. This may be more subtle though. Just a thought.

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"A wise girl kisses but doesn't love,
listens but doesn't believe,
and leaves before she is left"
-Marilyn Monroe