Vitamin B12 deficiency concern

Racy
Racy Member Posts: 2,651
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

I finished TAC chemo 21 months ago and now take Femara.



As a result of a recent blood test I was diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency.



My doctor has put me on a course of B12 injections to increase my level.



After reading about the possible causes of this condition, I am now worried about cancer in the stomach, as I have read that ILC can spread to the stomach.



I am going to follow this up with my doctors of course, but as they are not working today, I thought I would post here to see if anyone else has experience with low B12.

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited January 2013

    RACY - I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency several months before my BC diagnosis. I hope this isn't TMI but I was having a lot of diarrhea at that timr. My GI doctor told me it was very common in women after 40yo. I had B12 shots for a few months. My levels came up. It turns out mine was from malabsorption. I have my level checked once/year and it's been fine ever since. I toitally understand your worries but I think that there are many common causes of B12 deficiency. (((hugs)))

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  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited January 2013

    Racy, are you by any chance a vegetarian, or have you possibly cut back considerably on meat protein since your bc dx?  That's another common cause of B12 deficiency.     Deanna

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited January 2013

    Thanks for your replies ladies. I am not vegetarian; I eat fish, cheese or chicken every day.



    I do not have any symptoms of the deficiency and I am not that old :-).



    I emailed my onc so will see what he says. Just that and posting here have allayed my worries somewhat.



    Bottom line is that I am concerned because ILC can spread to the stomach.

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited January 2013

    Racy, as far as I remember from years ago when I had low B12, the association with stomach cancer is in people who are congenitally unable to metabolize B12. Most likely your B12 is low due to treatment. 

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  • Alicethecat
    Alicethecat Member Posts: 535
    edited January 2013

    Hello Racy

    I was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia (can't absorb B12) eighteen years ago.

    The treatment was and is B12 injections every three months. But I don't have stomach cancer.

    I hope you find out what is causing yours but if it is pernicious anaemia (rare) it can be treated!

    Good luck

    Alice

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