Hi Tracey, > Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 14:58:11 -0000 > From: "traceyincanada" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: recurring cancers > > The truth is that we are indeed more likely to develop another > cancer and we should be very diligent in getting regular check > ups...mamograms, pap smears, prostate exams etc...
Vigilance is always a good idea, but I don't quite agree that we are at increased risk of other cancers. We MAY be at increased risk, but there's no direct evidence of this, and the logic behind this belief has some holes in it. First, we may or may not have gotten CML due to an immune defect, but even if we did, this may well have only been a temporary drop in immune surveillance at a vulnerable time during CML cell growth. Once the tumor was established, our immune system may then have become desensitized to the CML cells much as we're desensitized by low doses of specific allergens in allergy shots. The immune system is a very finely modulated thing, able to turn down its reaction to "foreign" antigens under certain circumstances (deciding, it would appear, that they are "self" instead of "other"), just as it ramps up at other times. Another alternative to the "weak immune system" theory of CML causation is that the Phillies in people who actually get CML arise from BCR-ABL mutations in a rare stem cell type which the immune system is programmed to leave alone, whereas the same mutation arising in other white cell "compartments" is recognized and eliminated (that is, in the 15% or so of people with detectable BCR-ABL by PCR who do not get the disease). Taking IM (Gleevec) for long periods poses another theoretical increased risk of additional cancers, but theories so often turn out not to accord with facts, especially in systems so complex as human immunity. It's true that IM interferes with the function and replication of dendritic cells and certain T-cell types known to be involved in cancer prevention. The effect is small, however, and I know of no evidence that this actually promotes (or permits) other cancers. My doc at MSKCC thinks it does not. I'm not especially worried either, though now that I've reached PCRU I look upon this potential risk as one reason (excuse?) to cycle off IM from time to time - in hopes that any diminution in immune function may be restored during that interval. I'd love to hear your thoughts back on this subject, or any data you may have that contradicts what I've said. Cheers, Richard ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/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/
