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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Loss Of Appetite And Headache In A Metastatic Lung Cancer Patient?

hi. dad has stage 4 metastatic liver cancer, primary unknown. it has spread to lungs. he had 1st chemo 2days ago and has reacted well to it... he is becoming very confused, losing his voice, has lost a lot of weight, lost his appetite and is very weak, stays in bed all day.. also complaining of pain in his head.. what should we expect? and what should we do for him? doctors say thee is nothing more they can do. he was diagnosed 6wks ago. he was fit as a fiddle then but in 6wks he has lost half his weight
Mon, 6 Jul 2015
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your father's situation and problem.
Cancer wherever in the body, produces chemical mediators called as chemokines. These are responsible for decreased appetite.
Burden of these mediators is high if cancer is metastatic.
Because your father is having metastatic cancer, he is having marked loss of appetite and weight loss.
For his headache and confusion, loosing speech etc, possibility of brain metastasis is more.
So better to get done MRI brain to rule out brain metastasis.
Another possibility is electrolyte disturbance like low sodium. So also get done serum sodium level.
If brain metastasis is present than radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the options.
Survival rate in such type of metastatic cancer is very low, less than 1 year.
Hope I have solved your query.
Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.
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What Causes Loss Of Appetite And Headache In A Metastatic Lung Cancer Patient?

Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic. I can understand your father s situation and problem. Cancer wherever in the body, produces chemical mediators called as chemokines. These are responsible for decreased appetite. Burden of these mediators is high if cancer is metastatic. Because your father is having metastatic cancer, he is having marked loss of appetite and weight loss. For his headache and confusion, loosing speech etc, possibility of brain metastasis is more. So better to get done MRI brain to rule out brain metastasis. Another possibility is electrolyte disturbance like low sodium. So also get done serum sodium level. If brain metastasis is present than radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the options. Survival rate in such type of metastatic cancer is very low, less than 1 year. Hope I have solved your query. Wishing good health to your father. Thanks.