Been to the doc’s today as have lost a stone in weight in last couple of months and been eating okay so don’t really understand why. I’ve also got a slight stitch under my ribs right-hand side, which comes and goes and really is not that bad. My GP is excellent, she diagnosed me over 4 years ago and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here today if she hadn’t acted so quickly. Anyways, she’s sending me for full range of blood tests to hospital - go tomorrow and I guess it will be a week or so before the results get in.
She has said it is possible thyroid problems, but I do think she is trying to give me something to think about other than liver cancer. I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and I know everyone is different, but it does help me tremendously when others tell me their experiences, good or bad. I’m a need to know type I’m afraid… I was Grade 3 invasive, with vascular invasion and 4/12 lymph nodes involved, not a good prognosis at the time.
I’m also not sure if I’m posting this in the right place, so feel free to bandy it about if necessary!!
Thanks for listening…
wisps
Hi Wisps,
Have no experience to share as am only 6 weeks since initial dx but just wanted to wish you all the best, I could say I am sure its nothing to worry about but I know nothing so that’s useless, I could say you’ll get loads of support and experiences on here but then you already know that. All I can say is *big hugs*, x
Hi Wisps,
I can empathise with you completely…I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago, 10/12 nodes involved - not a great prognosis.
Earlier this year I had similar symptoms to yours although not such a drastic weight loss, the pain would sometimes be quite bad and I would often feel sick, I was convinced it was liver mets. Anyway it turned out to be gallstones and I’ve since had to have my gallbladder removed!!!
I’m also a person that needs to know, good or bad, and obviously liver mets is a very real possibility… but there are other causes.
Perhaps your GP could arrange a liver ultrasound as well?
I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.
Claire x
Thanks Ostrich and skimum, I really appreciate your support. Will let you know when the results are in…
wisps xx
Hi Wisps
I was dx in Nov 07 - had right mastectomy & node clearance, 7 x chemo, 20 x rads and am currently on herceptin. At the start of my treatment I was 11st 12 - as of today I’m 9st 8. Most of that weight has come off since I finished treatment, just prior to starting herceptin - so really in the last 3 -4 months. I was like you and worried about why I was suddenly losing so much weight, despite eating normally. I have had scans for all sorts of things to check for spread - currently awaiting results of kidney scan.
However, when I discussed it with onc - she suggested several reasons for it a) I am eating normally but…differently to what ‘normal’ was before ie I eat more fruit now and less junk food b) I was on contraceptive injections for years prior to dx, and obviously these have been stopped now, and they are known to cause weight gain/water retention etc c) as the weight loss has been gradual over the months my portion size has changed due to change in size of stomach - something I hadn’t noticed until we discussed it.
I’m also a need to know everything person - and, where the cancer is concerend can be a bit of a ‘glass half empty’ type of person sometimes (or a realist as I prefer to call myself!) - but there could be lots of reasons for it. - Please keep us posted
Margaret x
Thanks for your message Margaret and sorry that you too seem to have the ‘weight loss’ problem. Its strange really as lots of people would be glad to have lost some weight, I just look a bit too skinny I think!! Anyway, the good news is the doc kindly phoned me tonight to tell me that she has my blood results and they are all absolutely fine. Whilst of course, I am delighted to know this, I still feel unhappy that I’ve lost the weight for no good reason. She said just to monitor it and see how it goes in the next two to three weeks, and I guess if it continues then they may do more tests.
Can I ask Margaret why they are scanning your kidneys? I have a stitch type pain under right ribs which comes and goes and is not bad but is slightly unusual for me. I will just have to see if my weight sorts itself out I guess. The doc said liver function was normal which has to be good. Trying to be positive here but its the not knowing for certain that there is nothing serious wrong, I lost a lot of weight just before I was diagnosed for the first time. I’m lucky I suppose to have results so quickly, I only went for the blood test yesterday lunchtime to the hospital!!
One thing is for sure, if the weight loss continues then I’ll go back to my GP and pursue it a bit more.
Thanks again for the support
wisps xx
Hi Wisps
Sorry - the kidney scan info may have been misleading - it wasn’t as a result of weight loss. Following a bone scan, the radiographer picked up that although my bones were fine and no spread, my left kidney appeared to be an ‘irregular’ shape - and advised that an ultrasound scan was carried out.
With regard to the pain in your ribs - and I don’t want to scaremonger here lol - but I had a similar pain in the ribs spasmodically, which on Monday night last week developed into excruciating pain - and a trip to local infirmary - where they kept me in for a week and diagnosed pneumonia! So keep your eye on it and watch for chest infections etc.
best of luck
Margaret x