Is Stable Weight Despite Exercising A Concern With A Family History Of Cancer?

Posted on Fri, 1 Jul 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 1 Jul 2016 Answered on

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 66 year old in apparent good health. I recently had routine blood work, EKG, and chest X-Ray...all a ok. However, I have worries about getting cancer...my grandmother died in 1959 at age 52...uterian cancer...my dad same side died at 55 although he was exposed to a lot of radiation in ww II. My nephew on my moms side just died 12 months ago of Sarcoma at 42, and now my good friend from college is dying at 64 of liver/stomach cancer. I have seen to much and it has build a fear. I used to smoke but quit 26 years ago after 17-18 pack years. Here is my cause for concern and my question...when I went to the Dr. on May 10th I weighed 212 pounds with clothes which I believe represent 5 pounds...so lets say 207...then when I was at the dr. on XXXXXXX 19th 5 weeks later I weighed 205 or lets say 200 pounds...I may have eaten slightly less same exercise..tennis 1x per week. Is the 7 lbs loss in 5 weeks reason for concern?? Since I noted this two week ago, I have been monitoring my weight each day after getting up after urinating and no clothes...I have weighed between 200 lbs and 201 every day...so essentially you would say my weight is holding in the same range the last 12-14 days...is this a good sign that since I am not losing further there is no apparent underlying condition????? I have no other symptoms of any kind. Sorry, to be so specific but I have anxiety maybe worse because of my nephew and friend. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
I understand your worry!

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.

I am so sorry to hear about this huge family history of cancer. Sure you have every reason to get worried given how many people you have seen suffer and give up with cancer. However, none of your symptoms is actually in support of this and as such there is really no reason to get worried about cancers at this time. Your weight is stable and very normal and demands no further worries. There are also no symptoms that suggest an underlying disease condition and as such you should not be disturbed by just anything.

Keep me posted and I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (3 minutes later)

So, Dr my follow up is simple, since I went from lets say 207 to 200-201 in 5 weeks but have held is this range the last two weeks suggests all is well??

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
All is well!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

All is well. There is just nothing to get worried about. If there were need, I would have told you.

I wish you well.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar