What are the warning signs of cancer

Category : Breast | Sub Category : Breast Cancer Posted on 2025-06-30 20:37:52

Do NOT ignore unexplained weight loss.

I have had more than one patient be very happy about their weight loss. They were overweight and had struggled with this issue for years. Naturally, finally being thin made them quite joyous.

So, now it’s easy. People are complimenting them. They’re asking them for tips.

I had a 52 year old, thrilled with his 40 lb. weight loss. He lost the weight over about 5 months.

He came in for something he thought was unrelated.

“I haven’t fit into these pants in years!”, he told me proudly.

“What have you been doing?”

“Nothing.”

(Uh-oh)

“What did you come in for today?”

“I have a bump on my collar bone.”

I examined him.

There is, in fact, a large supraclavicular lymph node.

(Uh-oh)

“Are you a smoker, Sir?”

“Yes.”

Long story short, he had a CXR that looked like a gum ball machine.

Likely lung cancer. Pretty advanced

His wife was absolutely stunned. She kept asking if it couldn’t be something else. Over and over.

I pull out my usual words…

“This X-ray has some very concerning features. I’m ordering further imaging and evaluation.”

“Is it cancer?”

“We need to prepare ourselves for that possibility.”

His wife was absolutely stunned. She kept asking if it couldn’t be something else. Over and over.

I rushed him off to Oncology.

Despite their best efforts, he died 4 months later.

I’ve seen this same phenomenon with GI cancers, as well.

If you don’t know why you’re losing weight, see your doctor.