Paraneoplastic syndrome (patient information): Difference between revisions

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Most people with cancer don’t get a paraneoplastic syndrome.
Most people with cancer don’t get a paraneoplastic syndrome.
==Causes==
==Causes==
Paraneoplastic syndromes are caused by your cancer making hormones or your immune system making antibodies (substances that protect your body against certain infection) that flow through your blood
*Paraneoplastic syndromes are caused by your cancer making hormones or your immune system making antibodies (substances that protect your body against certain infection) that flow through your blood


Paraneoplastic syndromes cause different symptoms depending on the tissues and organs they occur in
*Paraneoplastic syndromes cause different symptoms depending on the tissues and organs they occur in


About 1 out of 5 people with cancer get a paraneoplastic syndrome—it's most common with lung cancer
*About 1 out of 5 people with cancer get a paraneoplastic syndrome—it's most common with lung cancer
==What are the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes?==
==What are the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes?==
===General symptoms===
===General symptoms===
Fever
*Fever


Night sweats
*Night sweats


Loss of appetite
*Loss of appetite


Weight loss
*Weight loss
===Skin symptoms===
===Skin symptoms===
Itching
*Itching


Skin flushing or blushing, causing your face, neck, or upper chest to become warm and red
*Skin flushing or blushing, causing your face, neck, or upper chest to become warm and red


You may get noncancerous skin bumps or shingles (a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox)
*You may get noncancerous skin bumps or shingles (a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox)
===Neurologic (brain, spinal cord, and nerve) symptoms===
===Neurologic (brain, spinal cord, and nerve) symptoms===
Weakness or loss of strength
*Weakness or loss of strength


Loss of feeling
*Loss of feeling
Slower reflexes
*Slower reflexes


Trouble using different parts of your body the way you want, such as your arms or legs
*Trouble using different parts of your body the way you want, such as your arms or legs


Trouble speaking
*Trouble speaking


Dizziness
*Dizziness


Double vision (when you see 2 of the same object) or being unable to control your eye movements
*Double vision (when you see 2 of the same object) or being unable to control your eye movements


The cancer can cause these symptoms without pushing on your nerves or spinal cord
The cancer can cause these symptoms without pushing on your nerves or spinal cord


===Endocrine (hormone system) symptoms===
===Endocrine (hormone system) symptoms===
Weakness
*Weakness


Weight gain
*Weight gain


High blood pressure or heart valve problems
*High blood pressure or heart valve problems


Confusion
*Confusion


Kidney problems
*Kidney problems


Red, warm skin
*Red, warm skin


Wheezing
*Wheezing


Diarrhea
*Diarrhea
===Other symptoms===
===Other symptoms===
Muscle swelling that causes weakness and soreness
*Muscle swelling that causes weakness and soreness
Painful swelling of your joints that may change the shape of your fingers and toes
*Painful swelling of your joints that may change the shape of your fingers and toes
Changes to your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)
*Changes to your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)


==Sources==
==Sources==
*https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/quick-facts-cancer/overview-of-cancer/paraneoplastic-syndromes
*https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/quick-facts-cancer/overview-of-cancer/paraneoplastic-syndromes

Revision as of 14:18, 14 August 2019

Paraneoplastic syndrome

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for (Condition)?

Prevention

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Paraneoplastic syndrome On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Paraneoplastic syndrome

Videos on Paraneoplastic syndrome

FDA on Paraneoplastic syndrome

CDC on Paraneoplastic syndrome

Paraneoplastic syndrome in the news

Blogs on Paraneoplastic syndrome

Directions to Hospitals Treating Paraneoplastic syndrome

Risk calculators and risk factors for Paraneoplastic syndrome


Template:WikiDoc Sources Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Gertrude Djouka, M.D.[2]


What is a paraneoplastic syndrome?

A neoplasm is an abnormal growth in your body that may be cancerous. If something is “neoplastic,” it has to do with the neoplasm. A paraneoplastic syndrome is a set of symptoms that are caused by a cancer. The symptoms happen in a different area of your body from your cancer.

Most people with cancer don’t get a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Causes

  • Paraneoplastic syndromes are caused by your cancer making hormones or your immune system making antibodies (substances that protect your body against certain infection) that flow through your blood
  • Paraneoplastic syndromes cause different symptoms depending on the tissues and organs they occur in
  • About 1 out of 5 people with cancer get a paraneoplastic syndrome—it's most common with lung cancer

What are the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes?

General symptoms

  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss

Skin symptoms

  • Itching
  • Skin flushing or blushing, causing your face, neck, or upper chest to become warm and red
  • You may get noncancerous skin bumps or shingles (a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox)

Neurologic (brain, spinal cord, and nerve) symptoms

  • Weakness or loss of strength
  • Loss of feeling
  • Slower reflexes
  • Trouble using different parts of your body the way you want, such as your arms or legs
  • Trouble speaking
  • Dizziness
  • Double vision (when you see 2 of the same object) or being unable to control your eye movements

The cancer can cause these symptoms without pushing on your nerves or spinal cord

Endocrine (hormone system) symptoms

  • Weakness
  • Weight gain
  • High blood pressure or heart valve problems
  • Confusion
  • Kidney problems
  • Red, warm skin
  • Wheezing
  • Diarrhea

Other symptoms

  • Muscle swelling that causes weakness and soreness
  • Painful swelling of your joints that may change the shape of your fingers and toes
  • Changes to your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)

Sources