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What Are The Symptoms Of Paraneoplastic Syndrome?
Question: I have burning with cold (can be freezing sometimes) and/or prickliness. Symptoms began last January -- arms are most prominent but also in legs - is patchy in these areas -- scared of paraneoplastic syndrome, esp lung cancer. (smoked for 20 years -quit at 41 years - now 57. These symptoms are persistent. Had nerve and muscle test in April of 2014 - nothing was detected. Neurologist will repeat the testing soon. MRI showed multi-level degenerate disc disease and multi-level foraminal stenosis which he said would not correlate with my symptoms. V scared.
By the way, all blood tests including electophoresis were normal. I did not have a paraneoplastic panel or CT or PET scans yet. I did have two lung x-rays (the last one in October 2014) which was normal. I also had a mammography, ultrasound, and tomography which also were normal.
By the way, all blood tests including electophoresis were normal. I did not have a paraneoplastic panel or CT or PET scans yet. I did have two lung x-rays (the last one in October 2014) which was normal. I also had a mammography, ultrasound, and tomography which also were normal.
Brief Answer:
Get the diagnosis right before anxiety takes over you
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I certainly understand your growing concern over the cold symptoms on arms and legs. I do not wish to make a diagnosis here over the internet but would like to educate you on this important issue that may allay your anxiety given that you are a breast cancer fighter. Given the fact that you successfully fought it you seem to be tired to listen to anything that is untoward. However I would not think of breast cancer or other paraneoplasm at this time when the most common ones cause these symptoms.
Peripheral neuropathy due to many reasons
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Anxiety
Raynaud's
Panic attacks.
Since you are worried and feared about cancer the brain is taking over your nerves and cause any symptom that you may not be imagining like the coldness tingling numbness over the hands and legs. Unless proven otherwise cancer should not take away peace from your life.
The fact that you had quit smoking long back the Xrays being normal the diagnosis of cancer related to smoking is far from reality.
Get the diagnosis right before anxiety takes over you
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I certainly understand your growing concern over the cold symptoms on arms and legs. I do not wish to make a diagnosis here over the internet but would like to educate you on this important issue that may allay your anxiety given that you are a breast cancer fighter. Given the fact that you successfully fought it you seem to be tired to listen to anything that is untoward. However I would not think of breast cancer or other paraneoplasm at this time when the most common ones cause these symptoms.
Peripheral neuropathy due to many reasons
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Anxiety
Raynaud's
Panic attacks.
Since you are worried and feared about cancer the brain is taking over your nerves and cause any symptom that you may not be imagining like the coldness tingling numbness over the hands and legs. Unless proven otherwise cancer should not take away peace from your life.
The fact that you had quit smoking long back the Xrays being normal the diagnosis of cancer related to smoking is far from reality.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
What about the sudden onset of the dysthesia (burning nerve pain, prickliness, and cool to freezing coldness) last January and the distribution pattern of symptoms -- assymetric -- began in back - quickly spread to arms and more predominant there than legs -- also patchy which appears to all point to autoimmune. It is there all the time. I know that I don't have lupus and don't appear to have any vitamin deficiencies. (Vitamin B 12 was 239 last year--I did take a Vitamin B tablet just in case for months after that but with no change in symptoms) The internet tells me that with this sudden onset and distribution, it is more likely to be paraneoplastic subacute sensory neuropathy Question: I would like to know if this is most likely to be the case with this clinical picture so far. Thanks so much for your time and expertise. I am terribly scared and depressed but the symptoms are very REAL. (I do not have a history of depression or any mental health issue -- I just strongly suspected that it was probably this disease from the beginning. That is why I am so scared.
By the way, I have never been diagnosed with breast cancer -- just had rashes but the doctors told me that it would not come and go. I have no breast symptoms now.
By the way, I have never been diagnosed with breast cancer -- just had rashes but the doctors told me that it would not come and go. I have no breast symptoms now.
Brief Answer:
Paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy has to present with cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Though what you read was correct I am unable to accept the diagnosis of paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy because it invariably presents with cancer within few months. IN your case you were ruled out of any cancer.
Moreover there are no autonomic neuropathy signs which include low blood pressures, leaking bladder and bowel. Peripheral neuropathy presents later to autonomic neuropathy.
I would still get the anti HU antibodies, Electrophysiological studies again every 6 months to check for myelination of the axons.
Paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy has to present with cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Though what you read was correct I am unable to accept the diagnosis of paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy because it invariably presents with cancer within few months. IN your case you were ruled out of any cancer.
Moreover there are no autonomic neuropathy signs which include low blood pressures, leaking bladder and bowel. Peripheral neuropathy presents later to autonomic neuropathy.
I would still get the anti HU antibodies, Electrophysiological studies again every 6 months to check for myelination of the axons.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
I did not have a CT scan for lung (only two chest x-rays - the latest was, as I mentioned, sometime in October, I believe) I read that the cancer can be quite small and difficult to discover -- that some people may have the antibodies for at least a year before it is discovered. (for some, it is up to five years or so) I also have never had the anti-HU anti-bodies checked so don't these things have to be done first -- Is it not possible that I could still have the cancer now given with these symptoms?
I will have the nerve and muscle test on Monday -- it was cancelled to-day because the doctor had the flu and did not show up. Will keep you posted.
I just read that a study showed that the average delay time of diagnosis for the paraneoplastic form of subacute sensory neuropathy (where the neurological symptoms actually preceeded the cancer was 7-26 months. 47-50% of the individuals with sensory neuropathy had a carcinoma. It is not looking too good for me right now. I am trying to remain positive. I would appreciate any further feedback while waiting. (the test was postponed until Monday)
I will have the nerve and muscle test on Monday -- it was cancelled to-day because the doctor had the flu and did not show up. Will keep you posted.
I just read that a study showed that the average delay time of diagnosis for the paraneoplastic form of subacute sensory neuropathy (where the neurological symptoms actually preceeded the cancer was 7-26 months. 47-50% of the individuals with sensory neuropathy had a carcinoma. It is not looking too good for me right now. I am trying to remain positive. I would appreciate any further feedback while waiting. (the test was postponed until Monday)
Brief Answer:
Sensory Neuropathy
Detailed Answer:
You do not need CT lung for cancer diagnosis. Xray is most often sufficient. You may be right with the stats but 7 to 26 months is a very long duration to diagnose cancer with the best technology that we live with. We have to track the symptom to diagnosis and not backwards. You are trying to do the later while I was trying to explain the former. Sensory Neuropathy we try to track the causes and if it leads to cancer or not.
Let us talk after your test on Monday. I'd strongly suggest you not to read too much on this subject on the internet or talk or share with anyone. Try to gain some mental peace.
I will help you further on.
Sensory Neuropathy
Detailed Answer:
You do not need CT lung for cancer diagnosis. Xray is most often sufficient. You may be right with the stats but 7 to 26 months is a very long duration to diagnose cancer with the best technology that we live with. We have to track the symptom to diagnosis and not backwards. You are trying to do the later while I was trying to explain the former. Sensory Neuropathy we try to track the causes and if it leads to cancer or not.
Let us talk after your test on Monday. I'd strongly suggest you not to read too much on this subject on the internet or talk or share with anyone. Try to gain some mental peace.
I will help you further on.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
Thank-you so much, Doctor. I will let you know what happens.
Brief Answer:
Sure
Detailed Answer:
You can reopen this discussion or write to me directly at this link bit.ly/dr-c-mazumdar.
For now I suggest you to rate my answer.
Sure
Detailed Answer:
You can reopen this discussion or write to me directly at this link bit.ly/dr-c-mazumdar.
For now I suggest you to rate my answer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Aparna Kohli
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