Survey: Potential causes of cancer?

Mikel, I'm not TN, but would add to your list that many women (but not all) who are diagnosed with bc seem to have some degree of thyroid malfunction.  Also, I believe that chemical exposure, from plastic bottles to cosmetics to herbicides & pesticides, plays a role.  I also think the way we have de-natured our diets -- from packaged & junk foods to the way our foods are grown and the distance they're shipped plays a role -- which means a significant lack of necessary nutrients for many.  I'm a lot older than your wife, and in my case, I think HRT played a significant role.

Unfortunately, the factors or causes that contribute to a cancer dx may be unique and individual for each of us.  What mystifies me the most, and what I think there may be a yet-unrecognized reason for, are the number of younger women, like your wife, with TNBC.  Surely there is something (maybe environmental ???) that is causing what sometimes seems like an epidemic of this type of bc.  

Have you read the book, Anti-Cancer, A New Way Of Life, by David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD?  I think you would like it.  He's a 2x cancer survivor who has asked the same question you are, and has come up with some scientifically-based recommendations.  Good luck to your wife, and thanks for posting.    Deanna

I don't think anyone really knows..if it was packaged food..wouldn't everyone get it?

I seriously don't think perfume causes cancer either.

I think that no one really knows..and you can't beat yourself up about it either..

My thinking, is that a large number of risk factors, both controllable and beyond our control, can come together to create the 'perfect storm' for cancer.  It wasn't my intent to say that using perfume causes cancer, I don't think it necessarily does, it's just one of the many things I didn't use in moderation (was never into that lol) and I don't think that's a good thing.  Anyway, I don't beat myself up about any of it, I've learned a lot in the past year.  Yeah, it can be random and of course there are genetic mutations that can just 'happen' and yes, there are people who survive very well on processed food and will never experience cancer etc. etc., but I don't think we can ignore the chemical burden we are all dealing with in our world today. 

I don't buy any of that.

If you don't have a family history, it may just be the luck of the draw.  I have three sisters with the same genes and the same exposure to stuff growing up and they did not get sick.  I have no exposure to pesticides or perfumes or any of that horseshit.  I have worked in nice clean offices all my life.  One in eight of us may have no reason at all for pulling that card out of the deck. 

Exactly.

Mikel:  I am sorry your wife has been diagnosed with TN.  I have heard of several women who were diagnosed right after giving birth.  I hope we can learn why that happens.

I can understand wanting to figure out what causes TNBC.  I've spend a lot of time thinking about that also.  

I agree with the others who have said we just don't know.  I know many people  believe there are environmental causes and that the incidence of breast cancer is increasing, but I have seen no evidence of either of these.  Breast cancer is an ancient disease that has been around since they first started recording history, so I don't believe it is caused by "modern life".

Many of the things you listed are risk factors.  For example, we don't know that alcohol causes breast cancer, but studies have shown that heavy drinkers may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Two of the things on your list are factors that I have read may specifically be associated with TNBC.  The first is vitamin D.  It seems triple negative patients especially have lower levels.  The other is diet and weight.  It seems exercise and a low fat diet benefit triple negative patients.  One theory I read about was related to insulin and insulin resistance.

One thing we do know is that TN often responds well to chemotherapy, and I hope that is the case with your wife.  Take care,

Mikel, yeah, that's the $64,000 question. I've been asking it myself but my hubby says (based on what he's read) that cancer is never caused by just one thing, but a series of events. And we probably all know other people who seem to have more risk factors and/or less healthy lifestyles but never get the big C. It's frustrating.  I heard that 90% of women w/ BC have no family history, so that points to environmental causes.  I don't want to sound pessimistic, but my understanding is that everyone is exposed to environmental bad things all the time, and our bodies are able to repair them, most of the time.  Sometimes they don't and it only takes one bad cell. Going forward, I'm doing all I can to avoid known toxic exposures. (safer cosmetics,all organic foods, etc) . I'm doing all I can to have a strong, healthy body  (eating well, plenty of sleep, appropriate supplements, etc) We all know about the BRCA gene, but I've also heard that genetics plays other roles in how our bodies handle cancer.  I've even heard about a new field of genetic-nutrition. The basic theory is that each of our bodies processes food slightly differently, so you and I may get different benefits from eating the same food. (hence the recommendation to eat a variety of fruits and veggies every day) It's overwhelming, and I can't wait for these answers to get pinned down in our lifetime.

Not sure if you know this group, but the Breast Cancer Fund is focused on eliminating environmental causes. Right now they are on a kick to eliminate BPA from foods (the chemical that leaks from plastic, like water bottles, and unfortunately most canned foods). I've also found it helpful to meet with a nutritionist at a cancer center; I've also become a fan of the book The Cancer Fighting Kitchen. Good luck with your quest and your wife's recovery.

Deana, thanks for another wise and compassionate answer. I don't know that book (yet...) but I agree it's important to get answers that are scientifically based.

Lynn, my MO said the incidence of BC has increased significantly in our lifetime. I think she's around 40 and she said when she started med school it was about 1 in 12; when she completed residency it was around 1 in 10. Now the current rate is that 1 women in 8 will get BC in their lifetime, and she said that some are predicting 1 in 7. She's a calm person but said this is close to an epidemic. She also said that, of course, some of the increased numbers are due to increased screening, but that doesn't account for all the increase. I wish it were better news (and you may have different sources of data) but FYI.

I am also triple negative and I think trying to figure out the "why" is a waste of energy.  I am 61, had my first kid at 18, never smoked, used birth control pills maybe 2 or 3 years, used hormone replacement therapy for only a year (back in my 40's), was diagnosed as diabetic ten years ago and have painstakingly avoided most white carbs including sugar ever since, my vitamin d level was not low, never smoked, only drink socially, was only slightly overweight, my insulin levels are good even though I have type 2 diabetes...and on and on and on.  I am not "supposed" to have breast cancer, let alone TN.

And no family history - my grandmother had six sisters so it's not like there couldn't have been an opportunity!

What's done is done, now I need to focus my energy on killing these cancer cells, not worrying about how they got here.

Michelle

Mikel



First of all, I am so sorry that you and your wife are traveling this very bumpy road. It really sucks! My husband & I have become a team in beating this disease as I suspect you are doing the same.

I just have plain ol lame BC. I had 2 kids by the time I was 24 & the last at 34. Don't drink or smoke. I am 5'7 120 lbs. Before dx's I didn't eat refined sugar or flour & rarely red meat. Thought I was being " good"

What I did do was take Birth control pills for the better part of 20 years. And unfortunately did not eat organic. My family history is strong but no one is positive for BRCA. But we all eat similar as families tend to do. Same recipes and foods. I eat the same recipes my Grandma & Mother made. I think doctors should take that into consideration.

Pesticides mutate genes. Genes like BRCA and genes like P53 that are suppressors kill cancer

cells. I truly believe that environmental toxins have played a huge part in my cancer.

Good luck to the both of you!

In good health - Corian

Why are non triples taking over his thread and telling us what to eat? 

No harm intended and no offense taken.  But no one can say what causes this thing.  Believe me. I have done my research.  TNBC is not about eating the wrong vegetables or a slice of cake.  It comes out of the blue for most of us, spins us around and sends us somewhere we don't want to go.  Most of us come back.  Some do not.  And it is a fast-moving threat.  The idea that I could have prevented this by eating organic produce or drinking bottled water is insulting.  It lays the blame on the victim.  And most of us had no reason to suspect we were at risk until we were already in trouble.     

Maybe you should investigate why womens health issues are given so little resources versus mens? 

My mom has TNBC and she goes through those same feelings of guilt, etc. and blaming herself, the food that she eats.  She eats way healthier than my aunt who eats junk food and processed food all the time.

Genetics?  No

Environmental? No

 My mom is way more of a stressball than my aunt, but even then - how can you control that? 

While I believe it would be great to find a cause, I'd like to focus on a cure.  Chemo seems to be a last ditch effort.  I do feel like TNBC gets less of a  spotlight than other cancers that have made strides in the last decade.  If you are ER+, you get hormone treatments post chemo.  If you are HER2+, you also get treatments post chemo.

I just feel like with TNBC, you get nothing because you don't know what caused it.  I'm going to "Run for the Cure" this year and write a letter to get my funds to go directly to TNBC research. 

I'm sure that at one point, everyone was just a breast cancer patient until strides were made in research to find out about ER and HER2. 

I'm going to try my best to raise the profile of TNBC so that it gets the funds it needs to make research developments and cures/treatments.

I am convinced it is birth control pills (at least for me).   I disagree that this is an "old person" disease.   There seems to be an epidemic of BC in younger women, and I believe BCP's are the reason - but that is my opinion, I am not a medical professional.  

No family history here. No BRCA gene. Very light smoker, quit years ago. Not a heavy drinker AT ALL.

I did take BCPs for 10 years. And - I did fertility treatments for several years, involving injecting my body with high doses of estrogen. I know TNBC is hormone negative, but I can't help but think there is a link between the fertility TX and my cancer - because there is absolutely no other reason why I'd get it.

I got two wonderful kids after all my years of heartache - but I want to be around to watch them grow up!  Still I am glad they are in this world... Yep, they need to find a cure, now.