Are Weight Loss, Nausea, Severe Diarrhoea And Abdominal Pain Symptoms Of Cancer?

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015

Question: I'm 55 year old female worried about possibility of cancer. I've lost 35 pounds in less than 6 months without trying. Loss of appetite, nausea, severe diarrhea. Taste is off. Lumps in right groin, right armpit and crook of elbow. Pain in stomach and upper right side of back. Itchy skin, especially on feet and hands, no rash. Poor healing of even minor scratches. All bood work is coming back fine. WBC slightly up, 11.1, but that's it. Low vitamin D, low heart rate 50. Dr ordered Cat scan of lower stomach which also showed nothing. Doc doesn't seem worried but I feel exhausted most of the time. Also struggling with terrible sweating issues. Any ideas of what I should do? Cancer runs in my family.

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should rule out most common cancers indeed.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Can you please specify which of your relatives have had a cancer and in what age?

Weight loss is a very alarming symptom indeed. And it just can not be ignored. As well as groin lumps. Night sweating is a common cancer sign as well.

At your age (over 50) the risk of colon cancer significantly rises. If you have not had colonoscopy yet, this should be done for sure. Gastroscopy is also necessary. You should also check your breasts (mammography), uterine (pap test), lungs (only if you have been smoking - CT should be done). The lumps in the groin should be checked with an ultrasound. If this are the lymph nodes, biopsy should be done.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

All the cancer is on my mother's side. My aunt died from breast cancer at age 53. My grandmother died from pancreatic cancer at age 64. My cousin, age 58, has struggled with melanoma skin cancer for years. My sister had a huge sarcoma tumor (cancerous though I can't remember what type) removed from her back. She is still in poor health. My mother is in very poor health having lost nearly 50 pounds over past two years with no diagnosis. I suspect she is also fighting some type of cancer.

How do I press for a biopsy when my family doctor will not cooperate? Can GI doctor order it done?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
GI doctor can order a biopsy.

Detailed Answer:
I do not know how can you convince your doctor to make a biopsy. Maybe you can do soft tissues ultrasound of this area by your own and show it to your doctor first.
GI doctor can order a biopsy as well.

I`m pretty sure you should be tested for specific genetic mutation, especially BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar