Long term survivors and health problems .

Options
dreaming
dreaming Member Posts: 473
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

When I talk to survivors ,we have in common some health problems; that started fairly young or do not run in their families for example, arthritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Fibromyalgia ,shingles.

I wonder if it because of lower immune system. How many of you,long term survivors have this problems?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited August 2009

    I am 2 1/2 years out and have had Osteoarthritis since I was 30....My genetic couselor said she believes there is a link between auto immune disease and cancers......i also believe there is alink between thyroid disease and breast cancer...But that is just my humble opinion......

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dreaming
    dreaming Member Posts: 473
    edited August 2009

    I have the same, it started 2 years after treatment, also PMR, shingles,etc, my doctors tell me the same, in my family nobody has illnesses and they live close to 100 without having had one surgery.  When  I an diagnosed  with something new, I am "happy" because it is not cancer, everything is relative in life.

    Thanks for your comment.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited August 2009

    Autoimmune diseases such as PMR, rheumatoid (not osteo-) arthritis, thyroid disease, MS, diabetes and lupus (and about 100 more) are all immune system diseases, as is cancer.  In the first instance, the body's immune system ceases to distinguish the good cells from the bad, and destroys the good cells.    With cancer, the immune system seems to shut down and allows the bad cells to multiply and spread.

    There is certainly a connection, and there is much crossover amongst cancer and autoimmune researchers.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories