Am I having cancer?

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hello. I am 19, and every time I go in to the doctor, they tell me it's something that doesn't really fit, and say I'm too young for what they'd usually suggest. The treatments never work, either. I am always weak and tired, and sometimes it's hard to breathe, even for no reason at all. I get fevers, and feel very sick at night, but usually better in the day. I've had a cough for about eight years, that never seems to completely go away. I've always just told myself I was getting a cold. I started having seizures about three years ago, and started getting really bad headaches around a year after the cough started. And I started needing glasses around then, when I hadn't before. My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer, and is in remission. And my grandmother was told she was at risk for brain tumors. I'm starting to just give up.

Dear Anastasia: It is really difficult for someone your age to go through these problems. Sometimes it requires a lot of tests and study to actually get to the root cause. It is difficult for us to diagnose your problem with limited amount of information, but what I would like to advise you is to never give up and keep researching and seek a second opinion if need be. Seeking the advise of an Internal Medicine doctor would be helpful. An internist specializes in multi system disease processes and would be most beneficial in your case.