Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Swollen Glands In Groin And Peritoneal Cavity
Question: I was recently hospitalized after presenting to ER with symptoms of painful swollen glands in groin, swelling of vulva and peritoneal cavity, severe bone and joint pain, weakness, sudden weight loss, and chills and fever. I had been diagnosed with a UTI which later became a kidney infection resistant to antibiotic treatment. During hospital stay I had CT scan, ultrasound, colonoscopy, pelvic exams with culture samples and a myriad of blood and urine tests to inlcude STD panels. Nothing really high or low to mention. I think during the ultrsound or scan they found a tumor on my pancreas and now want to schedule an MRCP and biopsy. I was released with continued symptoms. MRCP and biopsy schedule pending. I did not disclose my anorectal administration of MA because I was too embarrassed. Plus I continue to use MA but by smoking it. I'm such an addict, I know this already. My question what are the chances they will soon discover this embarrassing fact and could the MA use have caused this tumor? Lastly, just because a tumor was seen, does it mean cancer? Along with the other symptoms, especially bone pain, I feel confident we are dealing with cancer but my doctor doesn't want to speculate. I just want a relatively educated guess. One way or the other, I'm gonna have to deal with it so please give me your thoguhts.
I forgot to mention that the anorectal methamphetamine use started about a year ago with a guy I had started dating. He preferred it that way for sexual reasons. After my peritoneal inflammation, I was addicted so I began smoking it. I want to quit and I know I can do it, I just haven't take the necessary steps yet. I also am an alcoholic, once in recovery now in relapse. So I know the program, I have the resources, I'm just prolonging the inevitable because I'm getting something from abusing myself. I know it's got to stop. Please try to understand this as you review my question. I'm not a bad person trying to get good. I'm a sick person who wants to get well.
I forgot to mention that the anorectal methamphetamine use started about a year ago with a guy I had started dating. He preferred it that way for sexual reasons. After my peritoneal inflammation, I was addicted so I began smoking it. I want to quit and I know I can do it, I just haven't take the necessary steps yet. I also am an alcoholic, once in recovery now in relapse. So I know the program, I have the resources, I'm just prolonging the inevitable because I'm getting something from abusing myself. I know it's got to stop. Please try to understand this as you review my question. I'm not a bad person trying to get good. I'm a sick person who wants to get well.
Brief Answer:
I don't think they will figure out about your addiction by this means.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am empathetic towards your problem. Meth has caused physical symptoms and psychological symptoms which may give away your addiction. I presume you don't have those troubles. Assuming you do not have significant psychological illness, neither the pancreas tumour or MRCP procedure will hint about meth usage. During MRCP, the XXXXXXX injected will be used to enhance areas of pancreas which will allow radiologist to study structural aspects of pancreas tumour, diagnose it and plan next steps of management. It (MRCP procedure) would not give away details or clues about meth usage.
It is good to know you are trying to quit. But if you are looking for the right moment, it is the right time. My expertise towards drug withdrawal are limited. Therefore I am unable to give you details about withdrawal. But I am sure there are good deaddiction doctors around your locality who can help you. Please consider visit them sometimes sooner and get away from meth.
Wish you good luck with MRCP test.
God bless!!
I don't think they will figure out about your addiction by this means.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am empathetic towards your problem. Meth has caused physical symptoms and psychological symptoms which may give away your addiction. I presume you don't have those troubles. Assuming you do not have significant psychological illness, neither the pancreas tumour or MRCP procedure will hint about meth usage. During MRCP, the XXXXXXX injected will be used to enhance areas of pancreas which will allow radiologist to study structural aspects of pancreas tumour, diagnose it and plan next steps of management. It (MRCP procedure) would not give away details or clues about meth usage.
It is good to know you are trying to quit. But if you are looking for the right moment, it is the right time. My expertise towards drug withdrawal are limited. Therefore I am unable to give you details about withdrawal. But I am sure there are good deaddiction doctors around your locality who can help you. Please consider visit them sometimes sooner and get away from meth.
Wish you good luck with MRCP test.
God bless!!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Dr. Prasad: Thank you for your empathetic and encouraging response. You are correct in that I do not present with any psychological symptoms of my addiction. I have been able to keep my addiction cleverly disguised. Also, you are correct in that the time for me to quit is right now. I want to right now and I have the resources, it's just a matter of taking the action on my part. This as you may know if the most difficult part. Putting that aside for the moment, I believe my primary question was overlooked and it may be that I did not word it correctly. Let me try again...
Does having a pancreatic tumor mean I have cancer, and;
Could my method of administration of meth cause this tumor (and/or cancer)?
It was a two-folded question? I look forward to your response.
Thank you again.
Does having a pancreatic tumor mean I have cancer, and;
Could my method of administration of meth cause this tumor (and/or cancer)?
It was a two-folded question? I look forward to your response.
Thank you again.
Brief Answer:
Too early to consider cancer risks...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry that I couldn't answer these questions earlier. Let me be as specific as possible.
I am completely with the doctor that we cannot speculate cancer possibilities from an ultrasound scan finding alone. Not that we do not want to, but details from an ultrasound scan are too insufficient to arrive at this conclusion. The only detail I can give is that chances of benign tumors are more likely if the growth was found at the tail of pancreas and not the head.
You should also be pleased to know that pancreatic cancers very rarely spread to bone cells. Therefore the bone pains you talked about doesn't outrightly point toward pancreatic cancers at this point of time.
Meth use is linked to many horrible stories. And in most cases the cancer stories are due to presence of other risk factors such as snorting it, tobacco usage, alcohol and multiple sexual partners. To the best of my knowledge, per rectal meth use doesn't add to risk of pancreatic cancers.
In a nutshell,
1. Not all pancreas growth (tumor) are cancerous. However a growth arising from the head of pancreas has high propensity of being cancers. Please look if the scan report say anything about head, body or tail of pancreas.
2. Per rectal meth usage isn't known to cause this tumour. We can speculate that chronic per rectal irritation may lead to anorectal cancer. But this is just my speculation and I cannot provide conclusive evidence to prove it.
3. Nature and type of tumor found will be known only after we have more detailed tests.
4. Discuss about tumor markers when you meet the doctor again. Perhaps they can order turmor marker blood tests if it takes time to know about cancerous growth.
5. Lastly, advancement in medical science has allowed us to treat pancreatic cancers far better than couple of decades earlier. You can deal this issue with help of right doctors.
Hope this information suffices.
Regards
Too early to consider cancer risks...
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am sorry that I couldn't answer these questions earlier. Let me be as specific as possible.
I am completely with the doctor that we cannot speculate cancer possibilities from an ultrasound scan finding alone. Not that we do not want to, but details from an ultrasound scan are too insufficient to arrive at this conclusion. The only detail I can give is that chances of benign tumors are more likely if the growth was found at the tail of pancreas and not the head.
You should also be pleased to know that pancreatic cancers very rarely spread to bone cells. Therefore the bone pains you talked about doesn't outrightly point toward pancreatic cancers at this point of time.
Meth use is linked to many horrible stories. And in most cases the cancer stories are due to presence of other risk factors such as snorting it, tobacco usage, alcohol and multiple sexual partners. To the best of my knowledge, per rectal meth use doesn't add to risk of pancreatic cancers.
In a nutshell,
1. Not all pancreas growth (tumor) are cancerous. However a growth arising from the head of pancreas has high propensity of being cancers. Please look if the scan report say anything about head, body or tail of pancreas.
2. Per rectal meth usage isn't known to cause this tumour. We can speculate that chronic per rectal irritation may lead to anorectal cancer. But this is just my speculation and I cannot provide conclusive evidence to prove it.
3. Nature and type of tumor found will be known only after we have more detailed tests.
4. Discuss about tumor markers when you meet the doctor again. Perhaps they can order turmor marker blood tests if it takes time to know about cancerous growth.
5. Lastly, advancement in medical science has allowed us to treat pancreatic cancers far better than couple of decades earlier. You can deal this issue with help of right doctors.
Hope this information suffices.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
