Cancer or Not?

[Angelbaby05]

I am a 47 year old female that was diagnosed with HBV in 1993 after donating blood for my Dad. I never knew that I had it until then.  I am now faced with multiple "lesions" on my liver on both lobes. First one was noticed in 2005. The largest one, according to the numerous CT scans and MRIs, is not typical of a cycst or  hemangioma and has "numbers in the solid range" (whatever that means). It was just noticed from a recent CT that I now have some type of cycst on my mid left kidney.  A liver biopsy was done and verified the HBV chronic active, but the lesions were not biopsied. I have been having chest pain, upper abdominal pain behind ribs radiating to back, also pain in my shoulder that feels like trapped gas after a laproscopy. It sometimes travels down my right shoulder to my arm. This has been going on since June 2007 and no one can tell me what is wrong. I have also lost around 25-28 lbs without trying. I wake up from the pain and night sweats. Every joint aches and hurts constantly. I am now having trouble breathing, feels like I can't get enough air. I have trouble with my words sometimes too, I'll mean to say "salt" but "rice" may come out instead! I have seen a nuerologists and was told that I also have lesions in my brain and was tested, via spinal tap, for MS which was neg. I have seen my primary doc, gyn doc (even though I had a complete hyst several years ago), GI doc, Hepatologist, Internist. They all say i have had a million dollar work up but, still can't give me a diagnosis. My HBV doc says my HBV is chronic active but is very low and should not be causing problems.  It seems like something is out to destroy me and its doing a real good job!  If anyone can help, I am getting desperate. Pain meds don't work and the docs aren't much help either.

[jdwithhcv]

Great that you are set up for testing.  What you described makes me think about lung cancer.  It can be really hard to spot til its in advanced stages.  Its a cancer that typically will  metastisize to the liver and/or the brain.  Only a doctor can rule this in or out.

I'm a cancer survivor.  While treating for cancer I got a lot of information, help and support from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  They have a great organization and provide education and support to those whose lives are touched by cancer.  Please go to http://www.laf.org and check out the site.  

Please post again and tell us what happens.  If you don't get any answers from your current doctors, get a new doctor involved.  Don't delay.

Good luck, Angela.  I'll be keeping a good thought for you.

[Angelbaby05]

Thanks. I am having exploratory laparoscopy done this week. My GI and HEP think they might have missed something.  Maybe this will give me some answers.

[stevenNYer]

Sorry that you have to go through this.  Having chronic HepB puts you at a higher risk for HCC (liver cancer) but your Hepatologist would surely know that.  And it sounds like your had numerous followups, test, etc.  So I don't know if anyone on this forum could provide answers for you because we are not doctors.  So I hope that your doctors will figure things out soon to help you feel better.