possible cancer...scared!!

For that past month or so I have been having a lot of pain in all of my joints - knee's, wrists, fingers, elbows, ankles, etc. I went to the Dr. and he checked me for arthritis, Lupus, etc. and all the tests came out fine.  Then about a week later I started getting these really bad bruises all over my body for no reason. Some of them are/were the size of my wrist. And small ones all over my arms and legs.  
Some other symptoms I have been having are having no energy. I have to drink coffee all through the day to function. And a few months ago I started sweating a lot. Just sweeping the kitchen floor will get me to sweat. Before, I wouldn't even sweat during exercise. Now I get litterally soaked after working out.  But my Dr. took that as I have been working out more and my metabolisim has sped up some, but now they are thinking otherwise.  And when the Dr. felt under my ribs and pushed, it was pretty uncomfortable on the left side right under the ribs, and not tender at all on the right side. He said that it was my spleen that was where he pushed.
He talked to me about leukemia and Hodgkins disease and a few other blood cancers. But the two main ones he was talking about was the two that I mentioned.
One thing that worries him is that we have a history in the family of blood cancers and dissorders.
He didn't really give me any other explanation of what could be wrong with me.  He drew a lot of blood and said we should know more on monday or tuesday.
This whole thing has gotten me really scared.  
What do these symptoms mean?  Do these symptoms point to cancer? Has anybody gone through something similar?

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
What you are experiencing now are non-specific symptoms and could be the result of several disease conditions.  Aside from hematologic problems you mentioned, other conditions need to be ruled-out.  Examples would be connective tissue diseases and endocrine diseases particularly that of the thyroid.
I agree with doing several examinations in order to find out what is causing your symptoms.  For the meantime, do not worry too much and do not be scared.
Please do give updates.
Good luck.

[joanisna4]

Hi, thank you!  They have ruled out any kind of thyroid disorder. As far as I know, all other blood tests have been normal. They had mentioned that last month my white blood count was a little high, but they took that as me having a bug or something, but now that the bruising and sweating episodes have started, they are re-thinking what they originally thought.  They said the most recent blood draw was to check my platlets (sp?). Those are the results that I hope to be getting next week.

Those other conditions that you mentioned, can they be ruled out with a blood test, or are there other tests that I should ask my Dr. about?
My main concern is the joint pain and stiffness. Those conditions you said, do any of those affect your joints?

Thanks again for your help!

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
The conditions I mentioned above can be ruled-out by means of blood tests.  
Connective tissue diseases can affect the joints, and may present with joint pains and stiffness.
You can ask your physician what disease condition/s is/are being entertained based on your symptoms and initial blood exam results.