Question
My son is 16 years old and has developed an abdominal mass. Initially, he felt nausea, but later on, he experienced severe pain, tenderness, and vomiting. Now, he can’t even attend school and needs to be hospitalized full-time. He is very weak and has been losing weight. When I asked the doctor about his condition, he told me he had hepatitis, but I don’t think it’s possible since he doesn’t have jaundice. He vomits everything he eats now and weighs only 38 kg, almost like a skeleton in a skin. Is he going to die? What were the treatments he received and their effects? He has taken various medications, including steroids and chemotherapy drugs.
Answer
Hello, to confirm if it’s hepatitis, a simple blood test is needed. The symptoms of abdominal mass, severe pain, tenderness, and vomiting, along with the use of steroids and chemotherapy drugs, suggest that the individual may be a tumor patient. The specific type of tumor needs to be discussed with the attending physician. Additionally, if the condition involves a malignant tumor, it is generally not recommended to disclose the diagnosis to the patient as it may undermine their confidence and be detrimental to treatment. It is suggested that you communicate with the parents more often. If the family decides to conceal the patient’s condition, you should also adhere to this decision.