Mark: For me CML is the second kind of cancer I have had to deal with. I had a spinal cord tumor removed 18 years ago. Fortunately it has not recurred but I believe that the radiation therapy that I had is what caused my CML. So I have had 2 totally unrelated cancers.
My neurologist told me that at St. Judes Children's Hospital they are seeing secondary cancers in children already treated. I have always been diligent about getting a mammogram and annual physical because my grandmother died from breast cancer. Mary K > I figured that after the recent posts that people might like to have something new to discuss :) > > As I've been reading about CML and cancer in general, one thing that has struck me is the number of people that have had cancers either recur or who have contracted multiple forms of seeming unrelated cancers. One case particularly really struck me which was a CML patient that has also had to deal with breast and lung cancer. > > Given the success of Interferon in treating Leukemia, the fact that many in the general population test PCR postive for BCR-ABL but do not contract CML and the knowledge that the graft-vs-leukemia effect is at the root of the success of SCT. It seems likely that the immune system in all of us has been compromised in some way. > > In addition to (or perhaps in place of) a compromised immune system some of us may also have gained mutations in our tumor suppressing genes such as P53 which would also seem to make recurring cancers more likely. > > With the advent of Gleevec, BMS-354825, AML-107, etc. drugs we CML warriors will not likely die (at least not in the short term) from CML. But if we live for 15+ years I'm wondering if we have greatly increased chances of contracting other forms of cancers for which effective treatments do not exist. > > I realize that this is a depressing thought and one which isn't conclusively proven. But if we realize that there is an increased chance we should take appropriate screening tests (more frequent exams, etc.). > > I'm curious to hear everyones thoughts about this and if they have known other patients who have had multiple forms of seemingly unrelated cancers. > > Regards, > Mark > > dx'ed 4/29/04 > (20/20) 100% Ph+ > Currently on 400mg IM > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today! ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
