Question: My daughter has non-painful glands in her abdomen with digestive problems and bloating on and off. Could she have cancer?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Malignancy of bowel and intra-abdominal contents is easily detected with very simple, painless studies such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, and CAT scans. Anyone fearful of this deserves immediate evaluation. Remember that infection, inflammation, and tumors will often provide early symptoms, and are the reason periodic health exams by physician are recommended as a part of routine preventive care.

There are many premalignant conditions that are easily detected by routine surveillance, especially in high-risk groups, or in those with a family history of malignancy. Remember that malignant disease does occur in younger (teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s) as well as older (50-plus) patients, so do not let a young age deter a full investigation.

I'm not sure what you mean by non-painful glands—non-painful lumps of the abdominal wall or lymph nodes in the groin area? Regardless, this deserves examination by a medical doctor. Bloating is often related to diet as well as mechanical, obstructive, inflammatory, or functional problems in the upper digestive tract, especially the stomach, esophagus, and gallbladder. Gastrointestinal malignancy may masquerade as minor changes in bowel habits or intermittent rectal bleeding or indigestion that may be easily initially overlooked. Your daughter needs a physician consultation to evaluate her complaints.