A mother who believed she was in the best shape of her life suddenly began experiencing symptoms that medical professionals initially identified as gastrointestinal problems.
After having her third child, Amy Skoutelas started a fitness regimen and lost 30 pounds, feeling the healthiest she had been in a long time. However, her health took an unexpected turn in January of this year.
One night after dinner, Amy experienced stomach pains that felt like trapped gas. This discomfort persisted, and she realized it was not normal for her.
When she visited the emergency room a few days later, blood tests showed elevated levels of lipase, an enzyme linked to pancreatic function.
Amy underwent a CT scan for further analysis, which appeared normal, and she was advised to consult her gastroenterologist for follow-up.
In the interim, she was discharged with a diagnosis of constipation and instructed to increase her intake of fiber and fluids. Despite following this advice, Amy’s symptoms did not improve.
“I was having gas and bloating,” the mother recounted to TODAY, noting: “I kept feeling like I needed to have a bowel movement, but nothing was happening … I also developed really bad acid reflux.”
Amy then began experiencing diarrhea and a ‘gnawing’ sensation in her stomach, prompting her to return to her gastroenterologist.
They conducted an X-ray to check for a bowel obstruction, but it revealed nothing. In the following months, she underwent additional blood tests, an upper endoscopy, and a gastric emptying study, all of which returned normal results.
Convinced there was still something wrong, Amy sought a second opinion from a new gastroenterologist who recommended another MRI. This scan detected a 1.7-centimeter mass in her pancreas.
A biopsy confirmed Amy’s worst fears: the mass was cancerous.
“I just collapsed on the floor,” she recalled about receiving the devastating news. “I was on the phone with the doctor, like, ‘I don’t want to die. I have three kids.'”
Amy was in ‘complete disbelief’ at the diagnosis.
She learned that her cancer was at Stage 3 and required chemotherapy and surgery as part of her treatment plan.
In May, Amy underwent a distal pancreatectomy to remove the tail and body of her pancreas, along with her spleen.
The surgery successfully removed the tumor and 35 lymph nodes, seven of which were cancerous.
Amy began chemotherapy in June and recently completed her 10th round.
Fortunately, the treatment appears to be effective, as a scan in September showed no evidence of the disease, and a subsequent scan revealed no further spread.
Through her ordeal, Amy encourages others to persist in seeking answers if something feels amiss.
She advised: “Be your own best advocate. If you don’t feel that you’re being heard or seen, get a second opinion. Sometimes you still have to push for answers.”
Amy has an online fundraiser, which you can support here.
If these issues resonate with you and you wish to speak confidentially with someone, reach out to the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.