When Is Anemia a Symptom of Cancer?
Some cancers can cause anemia when they cause internal bleeding or disrupt red blood cell production and function.
Anemia is the inadequate supply of healthy red blood cells.
Anemia can be caused by many factors, and one of them is cancer.
If a person suspects anemia due to having symptoms such as tiring easily, getting winded easily, pale skin, dizziness and chest pain, they may jump to the conclusion they have cancer – if they know that cancer is associated with some cases of anemia.
However, anemia normally has non-malignant causes such as an intestinal ulcer, menstruation, poor diet and low iron levels. But some non-malignant causes are serious such as liver disease or lupus.
When Cancer Is Associated with Anemia
The association is infrequent, but the explanation is that “Any advanced cancer can cause anemia by causing inflammation, causing bone marrow suppression and decrease in production of red cells or sometimes destruction of red cells,” says Mark Levandovsky, MD, Founder and Medical Director of Preventive Medicine and Cancer Care. Dr. Levandovsky is a board certified internist and oncologist/hematologist in practice for 25+ years.
“In a more advanced setting bleeding is also possible, with anemia as a result,” continues Dr. Levandovsky.
Some cancers that can result in anemia.
• Cervical
• Colon
• Head and neck
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Metastases to the bone marrow
• Myeloma
• Prostate
• Urinary tract
• Vaginal
“Typically, for anemia to be present, cancer burden would be significant enough for other symptoms to be noted also…so anemia alone would be atypical,” says Levandovsky.
:Potential exceptions may be gastrointestinal cancers, especially colorectal ones – where early stage cancers can cause iron-deficiency anemias without other symptoms.”
If your doctor, during a routine physical or an exam for a benign condition, happens to mention that you look really pale and wants to order a blood test for anemia, do not panic.
It’s logical to suppose that dermatologists would make this observation less frequently than would physicians of other specialties, as they would more likely associate pale skin with healthy skin (the paleness suggesting low sun exposure), while skin “with color” could suggest overexposure to the sun.
The doctor who ordered a blood test for me, due to my pale facial skin (low sun exposure and no makeup) was an OBGYN. My blood test was normal.
But it’s good when doctors are making these observations when the patient is being examined for an unrelated issue.
Dr. Levandovsky provides personalized care to health conscious individuals as well as cancer patients and survivors, focusing on an integration of genetic/molecular risk assessments, prevention, education, nutrition and psycho-oncology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/uzhursky
Sources:
everydayhealth.com/anemia/anemia-cancer-link.aspx
cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/anemia.html
What Does Early Detection Mean for Melanoma?
Here’s a simple explanation of what exactly “early detection” of melanoma means.
Melanoma is actually highly curable when caught early.
The problem is that the opportunities for an early detection are often passed over! (more…)
What Causes Angina Threshold to Change During Exercise?
Here are two explanations for what can cause angina threshold to change during exercise or physical activity.
Angina refers to chest pain, usually from blocked arteries causing impeded blood flow through the heart. (more…)
What Can a Mass on the Pancreas Be Other than Cancer?
“There are many different types of masses that can occur in the pancreas,” says Jordan Winter, MD, a hepato-pancreatic-biliary and oncology surgeon and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.
“However, the majority of asymptomatic masses are benign and are typically benign cysts,” says Dr. Winter.
However, if a cancerous mass is discovered on the pancreas, there’s an 85 percent chance that it will be the deadly adenocarcinoma.
“If a patient presents with jaundice [yellowing of the skin] and a mass, there is a about a 90 percent chance” that the mass will be malignant, adds Dr. Winter.
“Masses can be tumors [benign or malignant] or non-tumors,” says Dr. Winter.
“Those masses that aren’t tumors can be simple cysts or pancreatitis. Benign tumors can be solid or cystic (sacs with fluid).”
Most Deadly
About 30,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed every year with an adenocarcinoma — the deadliest of pancreatic cancers, comprising 85 percent of all the tumors that are found in this organ.
Other Pancreatic Masses
“Solid benign tumors include low grade neuroendocrine tumors,” says Dr. Winter.
“Cystic benign tumors have complex names like intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, mucinous cystic neoplasms, serous cystadenomas, and solid and cystic pseudopapillary tumors.”
Cystic tumors comprise the majority of masses found in the pancreas.
“Two to three percent of people walking around in their 60s likely have an asymptomatic, benign and not worrisome cyst,” says Dr. Winter.
Dr. Winter also explains, “Many of these benign cysts can develop into cancer over time, but they do not in the majority of cases.
“Therefore, sometimes we recommend removing them, but not always.”
Most pancreatic cysts are mucinous, and these are usually benign.
But if untreated they will likely turn malignant.
A cyst is defined as a non-solid mass.
“Cysts occur equally in men and woman,” says Dr. Winter.
“There are certain rare cystic tumors that are more common in woman, including mucinous cystadenomas and solid and pseudopapillary tumors.”
Serous cystadenoma. This has a distinct honeycomb appearance on a CT scan and is usually benign.
Papillary cystic neoplasm. These are precancerous lesions that need to be removed; otherwise they may morph into adenocarcinoma.
“Solid malignancies of the pancreas include conventional ductal adenocarcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.”
Pancreatic pseudocyst. This is a benign collection of fluid around the organ and is associated with pancreatitis.
“Again, all masses should be evaluated by a pancreatic surgeon or pancreatic gastroenterologist, but the majority are not cancer.”
In addition to surgical management of pancreatic and related cancers, Dr. Winter treats other upper gastrointestinal malignancies and abdominal tumors. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, many on pancreatic cancer.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/uzhursky
Sources:
surgery.usc.edu/divisions/tumor/pancreasdiseases/pancreas%20cancer%20overview.html
surgery.usc.edu/divisions/tumor/pancreasdiseases/web%20pages/PANCREATITIS/pancreatic%20pseudocys1.html
pathology.jhu.edu/pc/BasicTypes2.php?area=ba
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatic-cysts/basics/definition/con-20024331
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3848054/
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3772258
Time It Takes for Pancreatic Cancer to Cause Symptoms
Pancreatic cancer is usually diagnosed after it starts causing symptoms, but does this mean it necessarily grows faster than “less deadly” cancers? (more…)
Accutane Can Cause Tinnitus? Case Report that It Does
Yes, Accutane can definitely cause tinnitus, as was the case of a 15-year-old boy who developed the ringing in his ears.
Tinnitus has been commonly described as any of the following sounds that only the sufferer can hear in the case of subjective noise: (more…)
How to Spot a Melanoma that’s Flesh or Pink Colored
Some melanomas are flesh or pink in color; not always an “ugly black” or “scary brown.”
So how can we spot a pinkish-beige melanoma during self-exams of the skin?
“An amelanotic melanoma can appear pink or flesh colored and is very difficult to diagnose on clinical grounds alone,” says Adarsh Vijay Mudgil, MD, double board certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, and founder of Mudgil Dermatology in NY.
“In a high-risk individual, strong genetic history of melanoma and lots of sun damage, biopsying any new, flesh or pink colored bump is generally good practice.”
University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists wanted to find out just how to spot an amelanotic melanoma.
A melanoma that’s described as being flesh colored or the same tone as one’s skin (which can have a pink tinge) is called an amelanotic melanoma because the “a” means the opposite of, and “melanotic” refers to pigment.
Due to the relative invisibility of amelanotic melanomas, they are more often diagnosed at advanced stages when compared to tumors in a brown or dark range of hues.
This means that this particular melanoma is associated with poorer survival rates.
Pink Colored Melanoma Facts
• Sometimes referred to as “invisible” melanoma. Technically it’s not invisible, of course, but because they’re difficult to spot during an exam, they’re called invisible.
• Two to eight percent of all melanomas are amelanotic.
• Most occur in white patients and start growing as pink — which can be a light pinkish-flesh color, a pinkish red and any shade in between.
• It can even escape detection by a dermatologist conducting a routine skin exam because its color makes its irregular borders and asymmetry more difficult to notice with the naked eye.
“We wanted to identify patients at higher risk for amelanotic melanoma in whom we need to look carefully for this cancer type,” says Nancy E. Thomas, MD, in the study report.
How to Detect Pink Melanoma: Study
The amelanotic melanomas of 178 patients were analyzed. People with certain traits were found to have a higher chance of having this pink tumor.
• Lack of moles on the back
• Many freckles
• Red hair, light eyes
• Inability to tan
People with red or strawberry blonde hair who cannot tan usually have the so-called peaches and cream complexion.
Blondes and even people with brown shades of hair may have this complexion as well.
This complexion has a vague pink tinge to it, and this pink gets more pronounced when the person has been in the sun without sun protection.
The more pronounced the “peaches” part of the complexion becomes, the harder it gets to detect an invisible melanoma, though again, sometimes these tumors are a dark pink or reddish.
People with these traits need to be carefully screened by a dermatologist.
If you have these associated traits, make sure to give your skin a thorough visible sweep from head to toe on a monthly basis.
Dr. Mudgil treats infant to geriatric patients, and is versed in all aspects of medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology. He has published extensively in the medical literature plus has lectured at numerous national meetings.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170809140114.htm
Can You Be Too Old to Get Prostate Cancer?
“The incidence of prostate cancer increases dramatically with age,” says a report by Sandeep Mistry, MD and colleagues. (more…)
Six Surprising Warning Signs of Heart Trouble
There are six surprising signs that warn of serious heart trouble.
Don’t assume that the absence of the classic chest pain and trouble breathing mean there can’t be anything wrong with your heart.
These signs of heart problems are surprising to laypeople, not doctors.
Puffy Feet, Ankles, Swollen Legs
No, this isn’t a normal byproduct of age. Edema has several benign causes, but congestive heart failure is one of the serious causes.
Edema. Shutterstock/Valerio Pardi
“Congestive heart failure can just cause edema and no other symptoms if it is due to purely right sided failure,” says Sameer Sayeed, MD, a cardiologist with ColumbiaDoctors of Somers, NY.
Back Discomfort
A problem with the heart can radiate pain or aching to the back. Sometimes the discomfort is more of a pressure sensation.
Shutterstock/BLACKDAY
If it’s associated with exercise, it may be heart related, but may also mean a back strain. If it’s associated with mental stress, this could also indicate a heart issue.
If it’s brought on only be certain movements or positions, it’s more likely to be musculoskeletal.
Cramping in the Stomach
Surprise! Who’d ever think that stomach cramps could be caused by a heart issue?
Shutterstock/Dragana Gordic
Discomfort in the belly has a ton of causes (both serious and benign), so it goes without saying: Unexplained stomach cramps or pain mean a visit to the doctor.
Dizziness
This, too, can result from a cardiac valvular problem.
Don’t take these potential warning signs of a heart problem lightly.
Even a physically fit person can develop a cardiac rhythm disorder or have a congenital heart problem that has remained silent for years.
And side effects of some medications can disturb heart rhythm.
Exhaustion
Shutterstock/Miss Ty
This has a ton of causes. When exhaustion occurs without rhyme or reason, out of proportion to the level of physical exertion, there may be a serious problem – with the heart.
Exhaustion from a heart ailment occurs because for any number of possible reasons, the heart isn’t getting adequate blood throughout the body.
Headache
Some people immediately fear a brain tumor when a headache arises, and very few people will ever worry that this means something might be wrong with their heart.
©Lorra Garrick
In the case of a heart ailment, a headache or pain in the head would be accompanied by other suspicious symptoms such as sudden facial numbness/paralysis, sudden one-side limb paralysis or weakness, sudden slurred speech or sudden visual disturbance.
Sound familiar? Dangerously clogged coronary arteries could result in a blood clot traveling to the brain and causing a stroke or transient ischemic attack – both of which could cause head pain.
“In certain patients populations, particularly diabetic patients, women and elderly (age>80 years), the heart attack or myocardial infarction may present with atypical or uncommon symptom complex such as noted above,” points out Asim Cheema, MD, who’s board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Cheema is with Your Doctors Online, an online doctor chat site.
“These complaints may be present in isolation or in combination,” adds Dr. Cheema.
Dr. Sayeed performs echocardiograms and stress tests at the Midtown Manhattan and Westchester offices at Columbia Doctors. He is also trained in cardiac CT imaging.
Your Doctors Online offers a free 7 day trial where you can ask a doctor questions online and get answers in minutes from anywhere 24/7. Learn more here. Dr. Cheema teaches and provides supervision to graduate students at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Exercises that Will Strengthen Bones Even if You’re “Old”
These exercises will strengthen the oldest of bones, no matter how “out of shape” or old you feel.
Fact is, most people do not do the very exercises that strengthen bones.
Perhaps the most important bones to strengthen are your hips. How often does an older person fall and break a femur?
Sure, it happens, but many more times than not, it’s the hip that breaks.
Wrists and arms may get broken too, but the death rate from hip fracture is enormously higher than the mortality rate from upper limb bone breaks.
Exercises that Will Strengthen Older Bones
SQUATS
There are many varieties of squats. This movement is perhaps the best at strengthening hip and leg bones.
“Squats can be done while holding onto the back of a chair or dresser if balance is a concern,” says D’Wan Carpenter, DO, a board certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with SIMEDHealth in FLA.
Freepik.com
“I have taught patients who have concerns about knee pain or give way to do modified squats by using a chair with several pillows on the chair as a way to prevent lowering the squat too low and not being able to return to standing or falling,” continues Dr. Carpenter.
“A limiting factor for many of the patients I have evaluated has been concomitant knee pain and/or arthritis, which make squats, even modified, difficult to achieve.”
YOGA
No, you do not have to be flexible to take up yoga. Yoga will make you more flexible.
Yoga is a “great exercise for strengthening bones because of the low-impact weight bearing nature,” says Dr. Carpenter.
“Additional benefits of yoga are increasing balance, increasing flexibility, and strengthening.”
LEG PRESS
Gyms have leg press equipment. You’re never too old to have a gym membership. With the leg press you don’t have to worry about “wrenching” your back, because it lies immobile against the seat.
However, if you have pre-existing back problems, this equipment might not be the best choice.
“A great number of people have current or previous back issues, and sometimes the leg press can cause some additional discomfort in those individuals,” says Dr. Carpenter.
If your back is okay, though, give the leg press a try. It works the entire lower extremities, which is very important for older people.
“In my experience, many of my patients need simple options,” says Dr. Carpenter.
“The best exercises in my opinion are those that people don’t require much instruction to complete effectively.
“I would add walking, dancing, Tai Chi and weightlifting — as in using dumbbells.”
“Mature adults should discuss with their personal physician before beginning any physical activity, as their personal doctor will know specifics about their medical history and any contraindications.
“In regards to yoga, persons already osteoporotic should avoid certain yoga poses and positions (i.e., forward spinal flexion without support) — as the already-fragile bone may develop fractures as a result.
“Many yoga instructors can demonstrate modified positions for these individuals to reap the benefits with less risk.”
PLYOMETRICS
Freepik.com, cookie_studio
This means jumping, e.g., up and down. And yes, older people, even with osteoarthritis, can strengthen their bones this way.
A study from the Department of Health Sciences at University of Jyväskylä, Finland, showed strong evidence of bone strengthening in the subjects who were women 50-65 with mild osteoarthritis of the knees. Knee pain did not result from the high impact jumping routines.
RAPID CHANGE OF DIRECTION
The same study notes that exercises involving rapid change of direction are superb at inducing improved bone strength.
An example would be trotting or walking to one end of a fitness studio and then as quickly as possible turning around and trotting or walking to the other end, and so on.
