Experts warn that unusual weight loss can be a warning symptom of many diseases - Illustration photo
Cancer detected after prolonged cough, unusual weight loss
Ms. TNC (60 years old, Hanoi ) has had a cough with phlegm for the past 2 weeks, accompanied by a rapid weight loss of 8kg in just 2 months. However, because she subjectively thought that the cough was a common respiratory disease, Ms. C. did not go to the doctor but waited until her regular health check-up to get checked.
At the medical facility, she was assigned to perform a full range of tests and paraclinical tests. Thyroid ultrasound results showed nodular thyroid enlargement in both lobes, accompanied by multiple bilateral cervical lymph nodes with atypical features of inflammation. Abdominal ultrasound detected some additional lymph nodes around the celiac artery.
In particular, the image from MSCT of the lungs and chest (without contrast injection) recorded chronic bronchitis on both sides of the lungs, the appearance of a mass of tissue outside the left lung lobe with a very high level of suspicion of malignancy. At the same time, a small opaque nodule was detected in the middle lobe of the right lung, suspected to be a secondary lesion.
Based on these signs, doctors diagnosed metastatic lung cancer. Ms. C. has been transferred to Military Hospital 175 for further treatment.
Dr. Bui Thi Cam Binh, an internal medicine specialist, shared that Ms. C's case warns against being subjective with symptoms such as prolonged cough and unexplained weight loss. Waiting until a routine check-up to get checked has caused the disease to progress to the stage of suspected metastasis, significantly reducing the chance of a complete cure.
"Everyone should proactively go see a doctor when they have any unusual symptoms that last for a long time, especially symptoms of unknown cause such as cough, weight loss, and prolonged fatigue," Dr. Binh recommends.
What diseases can weight loss warn about?
According to Dr. Nguyen Van Hoa - on- demand medical examination department , 108 Central Military Hospital , weight loss is a condition in which body weight decreases by at least 5% compared to total weight within 6 - 12 months without changing diet or exercise habits, not including weight loss due to a known disease or the effects of treatment.
However, weight loss in a previously healthy body can potentially indicate many health problems that need to be examined at a medical facility to find the exact cause.
"Weight loss due to changes in living environment or excessive stress is usually not serious and can improve in a short time. However, weight loss can be a sign of some medical conditions that need to be examined immediately.
Accordingly, abnormal weight loss can be a warning symptom of diseases such as cancer (accounting for 15 - 37%), digestive disorders (10 - 20%) and mental disorders (10 - 23%). In addition, about 25% of cases of weight loss have no known cause," Dr. Hoa stated.
According to this expert, Some typical diseases can be the main cause of rapid and abnormal weight loss such as: cancer, digestive diseases, mental disorders, infections, cardiovascular diseases...
Among them, malignant diseases such as stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, duodenal cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, kidney cancer, prostate cancer. Benign digestive diseases such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease... Mental disorders, especially depression, eating disorders. Endocrine diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency,...
In addition, some types Drugs and herbal products that can cause abnormal weight loss such as substance abuse such as alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, tobacco… Withdrawal syndrome, withdrawal after prolonged use of cannabis or high doses of psychotropic drugs.
Side effects of prescription drugs such as antivirals, chemotherapy in cancer treatment, anticonvulsants in diabetics, drugs to treat thyroid disease, NSAIDs…
Herbs or nonprescription medications such as 5-hydroxytryptophan, aloe vera, caffeine, cascara, chitosan, chromium, dandelion, ephedra, garcinia, glucomannan, guarana, guargum, herbal diuretics, nicotine...
"The treatment for weight loss will depend on the cause and health status of each patient. Treatments aim to improve symptoms, control complications and treat the underlying causes of the disease. In some cases, patients need to be examined many times to find the cause of the disease," said Dr. Hoa.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sut-can-dot-ngot-canh-bao-benh-gi-20250721093426044.htm
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