lack of colds and cancer/immune status

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rainey
rainey Member Posts: 1

Hello-

I have heard that a lack of colds could be a sign of cancer. I have had breast cancer and am currently not being treated. I wonder about my immune system when everyone around me is sick, but i stay well or just have a transitory achiness.

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  • idaho
    idaho Member Posts: 1,187
    edited October 2009

    I have never had very many colds in my life.  I have the achiness though - I thought I had fibromialgia for years-  after my dx of cancer and surgery etc.  the achiness is not as often.  hmmmm-interesting.  Especially if you believe that cancer is caused by a virus like I have heard some people do.   I am glad you are staying well though!  Tami

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

    I seldom ever got a cold either.......and I work n a grocery store where I see sick kids every single day......Curious for sure......

  • Looneymom
    Looneymom Member Posts: 144
    edited October 2009

    I never thought of it being related to the BC. For some reason that same question has been lurking in my mind since my dx., (even though I never mentioned it to a doctor, they seem to think I think to much anyway)   I always tell people I was healthy before BC dx. I  had not had a cold in 4-5 years, never had broken bones or surgery's or hospitalization except to have to babies.    I know I had share of colds mild flus and other things like strep, pink eye etc.. in my younger years but I thought it was all the exposure to young kids and working in a crowded office space with hundreds of coworkers.  My kids are 15 and 21 now, I work in news advertisment sales and shake lots and lots of peoples hands everyday.   Just Friday I visited a hospital, bank, car dealership, Yoga center, bead store and many many more in a week.   I try to keep my hands washed and keep that gel in my car and use it lots.    I wonder if there is a connections with not getting the colds/flu etc..but getting cancer??  I am curious also.  I wil FU on this thread when more time.

    Thanks ladies.

  • weety
    weety Member Posts: 1,163
    edited October 2009

    It's funny this topic was brought up.  I just read an article about it in my California Educators magazine today.  They call it the "hygiene hypothesis" and I guess there is some study being done on this.  Unfortunately I didn't keep the magazine--I saw this post after I read it.  Darn.  It talked about being less exposed to microbes during your life, therefore less exposure to colds and less likely to be sick and an increase in breast cancer later.  Hmmmm...  I wish I had save the magazine article.  Maybe someone else out here on this board might have read the same article or has different info about this "hygiene hypothsis."

    By the way, I teach kindergarten and rarely catch colds.  If I do, I usually only have an itchy throat or the feeling of mucous dripping down for a day or two, and then nothing after that.  I also did not catch any colds during any of my 3 pregnancies when your immune system is supposed to be lowered.  And yes, I have breast cancer (at age 38.)

  • Looneymom
    Looneymom Member Posts: 144
    edited October 2009

    Anyone else know where I could read this article, just wondering too.   I did catch colds, pink eye etc when I was 18 worked in a day care and had my share of colds and other stuff as my kids were growing up.  Just thinking about more - It has been really in the last 10 years (prob. the same time I have had breast cancer but did not know for sure).  I was so worried 3-4 years ago when both of my sons got the real flu (Ped. doc.  tested them).  My oldest was very sick with it, got mono and staff, my husband has had strep so bad in the last 15 years I thought they were going to put him in the hospital, both kids get strep alot.  I have never had strepin my life that I know of...just strange.   Its is like our are defenses are up and fighting off all  the other illnesses -but not there or strong enough to fight off the BC??  Thanks for the note.

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