Paraneoplastic syndrome (patient information)
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Paraneoplastic syndrome |
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Paraneoplastic syndrome On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Gertrude Djouka, M.D.[2]
What is a paraneoplastic syndrome?
A neoplasm is an abnormal growth in your body that may be cancerous. If something is “neoplastic,” it has to do with the neoplasm. A paraneoplastic syndrome is a set of symptoms that are caused by a cancer. The symptoms happen in a different area of your body from your cancer.
Most people with cancer don’t get a paraneoplastic syndrome.
Causes
- Paraneoplastic syndromes are caused by your cancer making hormones or your immune system making antibodies (substances that protect your body against certain infection) that flow through your blood
- Paraneoplastic syndromes cause different symptoms depending on the tissues and organs they occur in
- About 1 out of 5 people with cancer get a paraneoplastic syndrome—it's most common with lung cancer
What are the symptoms of paraneoplastic syndromes?
General symptoms
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Skin symptoms
- Itching
- Skin flushing or blushing, causing your face, neck, or upper chest to become warm and red
- You may get noncancerous skin bumps or shingles (a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox)
Neurologic (brain, spinal cord, and nerve) symptoms
- Weakness or loss of strength
- Loss of feeling
- Slower reflexes
- Trouble using different parts of your body the way you want, such as your arms or legs
- Trouble speaking
- Dizziness
- Double vision (when you see 2 of the same object) or being unable to control your eye movements
The cancer can cause these symptoms without pushing on your nerves or spinal cord
Endocrine (hormone system) symptoms
- Weakness
- Weight gain
- High blood pressure or heart valve problems
- Confusion
- Kidney problems
- Red, warm skin
- Wheezing
- Diarrhea
Other symptoms
- Muscle swelling that causes weakness and soreness
- Painful swelling of your joints that may change the shape of your fingers and toes
- Changes to your blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets)