Calling All Flight Crew Members - Past and Present
OUR NEW FORUM TITLE: CALLING ALL FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS - PAST AND PRESENT 
I had stopped woking as a flight attendant 13 years ago. I have read that there are European studies that have found that women who have been flying "5 years or more years have double the risk of breast cancer compared to those flying shorter periods," lead researcher Vilhjalmur Rafnsson, MD, PhD, of the University of Iceland, tells WebMD. He continues by adding, "In previous studies we conducted, we found that flight attendants had an overall 50% increased risk compared to women in the general population."
Reports suggest occupational exposures - cosmic radiation, disturbance of the circadian rhythm, and electromagnetic fields...
I am curious to as how many of us - using this website - worked/works as a flight crew member - specifically for 5 years or more.
Comments
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Interesting. I was a Pan Am flight attendant many years ago, but flew for only 3 years. Hope you get some more responses. Caryn
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Exbrnxgrl - Pan Am - how fun! My mother's friend, Marsha flew for Pan Am. She loved it. I was with Southwest. The study, if I can remember correctly, included Pan Am flight attendants. The study covered a several year span. There was another study started in the 1990's that was looking specifically at flight attendants in California...I wish I knew more what that study was about.
I was at a holiday party - a woman was asking me if my cancer was genetic...I brought up that I had just read about the breast cancer flight attendant connection - she had tears in her eyes and told me her mother flew for Pan Am and had died of breast cancer. She had never heard of such a connection. -
Caryn, You are a teacher! How great. I was an art teacher.:) I taught middle school.
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I'm not a flight attendant, but I've heard that everyone gets extra radiation exposure during flights, so this seems worth exploring.
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Smithy,
I was a high school ESL teacher originally. After teaching in the Peace Corps, I flew for Pan Am and was based at JFK. Moved to CA and earned my credential for elementary school. Happy as a clam for grades 3 and under. Currently teaching first grade. Southwest is a big player at SJC which is about 15 minutes from my home. Caryn -
Peggy - I read that there was a group (in Europe) that is going to (or has begun to) conduct a study regarding cancer and frequent flyers...that should be interesting.
Caryn - I love the little guys, too. I never imagined - in a million years - that I would have loved teaching middle school.
I forget which comedian stated that middle school was the blueprint for Hell. lol. What an exciting time - flying for Pan Am - and being based at JFK. Teaching in the Peace Corps had to have been a rewarding experience.
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While I was not a Flight Attendant, I did fly Second Officer on the 727 and First Officer on the 757 for about seven years before giving up my "glamourous" career in aviation to have babies. I have not flown in almost 15 years now (last flight was April 1995 and diagnosed with IDC in May of 2010) but immediately remembered the flight deck conversations about the long term effects of radiation at altitude when I read the title of your post.
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How sexist we are to assume that none of us were pilots! MargaretEleanor, you clearly belong here. Besides bc, are there studies that look at cancer rates overall for flight crews?
Caryn
PS: Smithy, I was raised in NYC, JFK was the last place I wanted to be based! -
Welcome MargaretEleanor!!! When I asked how many flight crew members (past/present) were using this site - I most definitely meant pilots as well. Good call exbmxgrl! That forum title is sexist!! I want to change our title - but I don't know how. Apparently, I was in a hurry to push back from the gate. lol I even forgot the "s" on "Attendant." Yep - calling that one flight attendant.
Interesting - thinking of "sexist" - the research shows that male flight attendants did not have the same 50% increase in breast cancer - compared to the general population of men who never flew.
MargaretEleanor - you flew for 7 years (last flight 4/95), I flew for 6 years (last flight 10/97). You were diagnosed with ICD in May of 2010 - I was diagnosed with IDC in April, 2011. You said you left flying to go have babbies - I did, too. I was pregnant while flying. I flew my last flight 10/31, and gave birth to my son 12/03 (carried full term). Southwest lets you fly (at least back then) as a flight attendant (not PAX) so as long as you had a doctor's note...and I think stopping a month before your due date. Why I mention this - the research showed that there was an increase in breast cancer (IDC) in the flight attendants who were flying - and had NOT yet had children. I had not given birth while I was flying - or before becoming a flight attendant.
"Are there studies that look at cancer rates overall for flight crews?" Good question, Caryn! Which makes me ponder the question - What breast cancer studies are out on pilots - specifically female - with military flight training. MargaretEleanor - were you in the military?
Caryn - did you have children during your flight career? Raised in NYC - based at JFK - where is the fun in that? lol
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Not a flight attendant, but I spent the last 20 years flying across half the country every 3 to 4 months to visit my parents.
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Welcome yorklemom!! That is a lot of traveling - you are a good daughter!
It will be interesting to see what findings they come upon regarding the frequent flyer. Caryn - you mentioned other cancers flight crews might get...and if there were studies...MargaretEleanor, you mentioned the flight deck conversations regarding the long term effects of radiation at altitude - do remember any of your fellow pilots having skin cancer? A pilot having skin cancer on the side of their face/head that is closest to the window? Example - sitting in the left seat - left side of the face... Have you heard that? How does radiation work - in regards to infiltrating a fuselage? Does anyone know? Are windows a weaker point? When I think about it - I always flew A position (737s) my right side was always the closest to the window - on the jump seat - in the galley...I flew A LOT - always picked up trips... My right side - is the side of my breast cancer, it was also the side of a rare tumor I had in my neck. hmmmm
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MargaretEleanor - There is a study (Breast Cancer in Female Airline Pilots:Isee-317 , Nicholas, J; Butler, G; Mohr, Jr L - Epidemiology) that was based on the responses of a detailed survey - "mailed to every female pilot in the Air Line Pilots Association "(2112 women total - 1120 women responded). "Conclusions: For the respondents in this study, self - reported results indicate a more than 2-fold increase in breast cancer prevalence among female pilots compared to US women in the same age and racial group."
Google 'airline pilots and breast cancer'...lots of links pull up. Interesting reading, to say the least.
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Interesting subject! (Thanks for the invite, Smithy!) I was a flight attendant for 12 years for America West Airlines (now US Air) but haven't flown in 15+ years. It would be interesting to see if there's a link there.
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Smithy- I'm so glad you started this thread! Kate 33 and I had this conversation back in Aug/ Sept.
I was a TWA flight attendant based in New York. I flew for 8 years, three of those being international to Europe and the Middle East. My next two jobs had me flying from Calif to Israel, Eastern Europe, and Russia. My last TWA flight was in 1985 (I'm 55), but I remember this topic was raised shortly after I left flying. Many of my international trips, especially the long ones like JFK to Cairo, we're at 42,000 - 44,000 feet--much more radiation at those higher altitudes. I was able to walk through the Concorde while in Paris on a layover and that plane flew in excess of 60,000 feet so I would love to hear if there has been a study on those crew members.
If the radiation of ONE coast to coast trip equals having one chest xray, imagine the levels we have all been exposed to.
I flew at a time when cigarettes and cigars were allowed esp on international flights. I remember not being able to see the last 40 rows on a 747 because of the cloud of smoke. And since I was junior, I always worked that section. Double whammy! Cough, cough.
I will say it was one of the best and most fun experiences of my life, and even if the job came with a warning label "fly at your own risk" I would still have done it. What I would hope for now is early screening for those in "risky" jobs and exposure to radiation from flying sure puts crew members in that category! -
Welcome Kate33 & LindseyS!! Kate33 - where were you based?
LindseyS - How exciting - Russia!! Sure you flew there in a cloud of smoke, but your destinations sound amazing. lol. That is a double whammy!!! I had no idea one coast to coast trip equals having one chest xray! I'm with you, I loved my experience as a flight attendant - I would still have done it, too. There was a study that was specifically looking at flight attendants who flew after 1971. I am now very curious about the flight crews working the Concorde, and their breast cancer ratio. Is there early - insurance covered - screening for flight crew members? If not - this might be something flight crews should push for. I noticed online that Delta had a "Pink" plane - I think 60 of their "breast cancer surviving" flight attendants were on it...those were flight attendants who were still flying...(is that right? Does anyone know off hand?) To think - how many of us out are out there, diagnosed 20 - 25+ years after our hire date - and no longer fly. Many of us never mentioning to our doctors (oncologists...) that we had worked as a flight crew member. After reading a few studies, I told my oncologist that I had been a flight attendant. She said she had a few other patients (she presently treats) who are flight attendants. Key word there - ARE. How about all her patients who "were" flight crew members? She will never know. Nor will other doctors. I never filled out a medical questionnaire asking if I worked as a crew member. Is there an agency for flight crew members to register their names with after their diagnosis of breast cancer? I wonder what steps must be taken to have hospitals, clinics, and cancer treatment centers include this question on their medical questionnaires?
I really hope flight crew members - past and present - find this forum. I did a key word search on this site - "flight attendant," "Pilot"... and found Kate33, LindseyS and a few others who had mentioned these words in other forums. I am sure there are many members of this site who have never mention their having flown for an airline. I hadn't.
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The website monitors notice that we wanted to change the title of our forum - and changed it for us. Thanks!! Our new forum title is much better.:)
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Smithy- I was based in Phoenix. I only flew domestic but lots of red eyes since I was commuting part of the time from San Antonio. The only international I did was a couple of military charters to Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm. I also flew during the tobacco haze days- sometimes even the flight attendants were smoking on the back jumpseat and the pilots were smoking up in the cockpit. I'm amazed I didn't get lung cancer instead of breast! Like a lot of us, I still miss it, too. I've interviewed with Allegiant and US Air but so far no luck in getting re-hired.
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Kate33 - Military charters to Saudi Arabia...that must have been interesting.
A boyfriend I dated - years ago - had been in Desert Storm (Special Forces). He wrote to me how nice his flight attendants had been...how strange a feeling the flight over was...and how he and his friends broke into song, "All We Are Saying is Give War A Chance." Sung to the tune of John Lennon's song, "Give Peace a Chance." I am glad to hear you didn't get lung cancer - or as LindseyS refers to it - the "Double Whammy." Have you looked into Southwest? I really loved flying for them.
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After posting, I spent a little time with Dr. Google and found the same study of ALPA pilots that Smithy mentioned.
I spent all my flight time on the right side of the airplane and the bc was in my right breast. I also just had a growth removed from my right arm that looked suspicious for melanoma. Coincidence??
I have to agree with LindseyS, flying is the most fun job in the world for a single person! The money is good, I got to see the world, and I would also do it all over again even if it came with a warning label. BUT, from now on, I will take preventive medical care much more seriously and will have more frequent cancer screenings.
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Smithy- Would love to get on with Southwest. I tried to apply several months ago when they posted for F/A's but they had so many people apply their system crashed so I couldn't get on. Very frustrating! My DH is (was) a pilot for them but was just DX with Parkinson's this spring so is on permanent disability. They have been wonderful to him and just an amazing company overall to their employees. Southwest would be my dream job!
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Hello girls!
First of all, thanks Smithy for inviting me here :-)
I'm a flight attendant for Air France, based in Paris, since early 2007. One of my closest friends is an FA for Emirates and told me about several cases of leucemia in both women AND men. They fly approximately 120 hours per month, while AF attendants fly 75 hours/month.
When I was recovering from my second surgery at the hospital this summer I met a collegue, who was not very happy to see me, I saw the look in her eyes that said "Oh no, maybe this is because of flying".
After diagnosis, the 20th of December last year, I started thinking and put two and two together. I started researching, and found among other things a study about nightshifts:
"The link between sleep, light at night and breast cancer may involve melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain's pineal gland. Production of melatonin peaks at night during sleep. One theory is that nighttime sleep deprivation or exposure to light at night somehow interrupts melatonin production, which in turn stimulates the ovaries to kick out extra estrogen — a known hormonal promoter of breast cancer".
http://www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/news/2001/10/16/graveyard_cancer.html
I also got to know the dangers of cosmic radiation. Some flights (depending on flight plans or routes like Tokyo) fly near the poles. Example: A Paris-Singapour is 0.03 milliSieverts but a Paris-Seattle is equivalent to 0,09 mSv, and the time of flight is about the same. FA's in Europe get a yearly dose of about 2,5-4 Sv. My yearly dose from 2010 measured 3 Sv (my radiation treatment was equivalent to 2 Sv). When we start working, noone informs us about cosmic radiation, we get a letter at the end of the year, informing us about how many Sieverts we've accumulated only by flying. So you can say that in 2010 I sponged up about 4 Sieverts in total, whoa!
I can understand how disturbed circadian rythms and unbalanced hormones, caused by nightshifts, constant jetlag and stress may contribute to female FA's developing cancers, including hormone dependant breastcancers. Then again, everyone (thank Goodness) is not prone to alterations in DNA, and when I start flying again (half-time of course) I will put all my chances on my side to be at my best health. It will not be easy, but I guess it will be manageable, as I'll only be flying to China two times a month maximum.I'm thinking about respecting my fatigue, only eating organic, exercise, NOT drink alcohol, breathe and cool down after but also during flights, finding a way to cope with jetlag so I'm no raving monster when I come home.
When I was working, I never ate fruit nor carbs of fear of gaining weight, and I was always on stupid diets (the most recent was Atkins, huge mistake..) Exercise was too tiring. A 'few' drinks post-flight with the crew was mandatory though..I developed candida infections easily, and my digestion was just upside down. My blood pressure was way below normal. The stress from working first class was omnipresent. The 2009 accident Rio-Paris where I lost collegues created even more mental stress. While I was perfect on the outside, my insides were clearly in uproar.
Personally, I find the article 'Physiology of Hormones' by Sherrill Sherman very accurate and interesting, regarding for example adrenal gland exhaustion, which in turn gets the endocrine system out of balance etc etc. If you google it, you can find the article in pdf.
Another study I read (in French, but the source is stated below), concerns dangers of cosmic radiation and possible cases of melanoma and leucemia.
L C Yong et al.Increased frequency of chromosome translocations in airline pilots with long-term flying experienceOccup Environ Med 2008. doi:10.1136/oem.2008.038901I love my job; when I got my diagnosis, one of my first thoughts were 'Will I have to stop flying?'. Quickly though, my prioirities changed drastically. I'm also a teacher for wanna-be FA's; I'm shouting at them in swimmingpools, evacuation and fire exercises, explaining why and how one must be impeccable in uniform, preparing them for interviews and so on. Very rewarding, and they look at me like I'm some kind of guru! Needless to say one of my fave tv shows at the moment is Pan Am :-) Oh, how I would have loved flying in the 60's with a Camembert on the head as we say in France (meaning the hat!), but then again the cigarette smoke would surely have drove me insane.When my onc asked me to tell him about my job and lifestyle, he looked at me and said 'Oh, you're a flight attendant...' 'Meaning?' I asked. 'Well, the aviation business is a very, very toxic one'. Oh, when I think about all the open doors while refuelling or just waiting a the tarmac without passengers when I was on Europe flights and all the kerosene we must have inhaled. The food we get to eat, full of pesticides and additifs to even taste anything up in the air..Oh well.I wish you all a Happy new Year! -
Good evening all,
This is so much to think about! Add to that the fact that I'm of Ashkenazic Jewish descent and I suppose I may have stood a higher than average chance of developing bc.
Smithy, I was single and childless when I flew. I now have two adult daughters, both breastfed, and will be a first time grandmother in March.
I often flew very long flights, 12+ hours. We used a 747SP and went non-stop to Tokyo, Dhahran, etc.
I had great fun and got to travel in a way I would never have been able to on my own but in my heart, I was always a teacher. I subbed when my dd's were young and went back to teaching full time when they got a bit older. I will always cherish my Pan Am days but my true loves are my first graders.
I wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.
Caryn -
I have always wondered about the cancer risks for flight attendants. I just completed 20 years. Thought I would leave after 5- after I had seen the world. Never thought I would be a "senior momma". I am newly diagnosed with DCIS. Trying to figure out if it is possible to fly and do rads at the same time???? Any advice?
The delta F/A's who worked the pink plane are active flight attendants. Not sure if all 60 are a mix of active and retired. We also sell pink lemonade in October and sell Mel's bracelets in duty free. You can wear pink turtlenecks, dresses and on weekends wear jeans-all in October.
Thanks and Happy New Year -
Hi Ladies,
It's so interesting to see this post. First, I'm glad each of you (us) are still in the Land of the Living and preparing to close out another year :-) As for me, I was an AA F/A for 9 years before my diagnosis. I was diagnosed at 37 with no family history, although the cancer was first seen on mammo and U/S but misdiagnosed as benign when I was 35. I was domestic throughout my tenure with American. I read a report that said crew members that fly at higher geographical latitudes are at the highest risk for cancer. However, the constant cosmic radiation for all flight crew puts us at increased risk all around. (I calculated that I used to fly an average of 30,000 miles per month). These studies are only just now making it to the forefront of awareness here in the states.
I stopped flying two years ago and am glad to be on the ground. Everyone have a wonderful New Year and enjoy each breath as it comes!
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Welcome Carola30!!!! Paris, France - how lucky!! I am so happy you have joined our forum. I love all of the information you have brought with you.:) So interesting!!! This forum is great for bringing all of these ideas together. What one of us has learned - and could share - leaves a great little "paper" trail of resources for others to conveniently access.
I read in one article that although airlines acknowledge the hazards regarding the increase of cancer (breast) in flight crew members it is not enforced by the FAA - or any other agency - that an airline provide their crews warning....it is entirely optional. Now, Carola30, you don't remember such info upon your hiring...for many of us the studies weren't even out yet. I am very curious which airlines give the "heads up" to their new hires. Does anyone know?
Kate33 - I am so sorry to hear about your husband's health. I hope he is doing well. That is such a hard adjustment for him. Southwest pilots are great! I'm so sorry. I wish the absolute best for him. Too bad about the crashed website....Stay on it though - you might get on with them ,yet. The company really loves to hire family and spouses of their employees. I loved flying for Southwest! They were wonderful. When I left they gave me a letter stating I was eligible for re-hire. I miss flying! I am several years away from going back. My son is 13...we've got our routine - that would be too big of an adjustment for him. But who knows - maybe one day.
I think it says a lot about the love of flying when you have a group of women - all with breast cancer - not having any regrets...would do it again...or in some of our cases - still choose to fly.:) regardless of the reported risks. I think MargaretEleanor makes a great point regarding one being on top of preventative measures...screenings...LindseyS voiced the hope that since there is occupational risk that there would now be early screening. Is there? Does anyone know?
What I would like to see -
* Airlines are mandated by law to provide new hires (all employees) with information packets regarding occupational risks.
* insurance plans include coverage for early screening for all flight crew members.
* All medical facilities - oncology... - include the question of airline employment on medical forms.
If these things are in place - and I just don't know about it - then I am happy. Tonight, I was out to dinner with a friend of mine - she is a documentary film maker. She really had me thinking of a bigger picture - there are studies that mention looking at frequent flying...Wouldn't it be something if there was an increase in certain cancers solely because airline fares became more competitive - budget airlines coming onto the scene -more people could afford to fly - the trend of flying for business purposes...Oh my - you don't think Southwest caused an increase in cancer?! Lol.
Carola30 you make a great point for applying healthy strategies. Organic foods are great. My son eats way too much meat - I buy only organic meat. That is my attempt at trying to divert some future problem . We live in a toxic world. We may not be able to stop it - but at least for the time being - we should be able to navigate through it. It is always the simplest actions that make the biggest difference. Hand washing and sterile operating conditions have saved millions of lives. To think there was once a time where that concept wasn't common knowledge.
Knowledge is power. That's for certain.
Happy New Years!! -
Welcome Cimo37!!! I am glad you found us.:) I am happy to hear you are alive, and well, too.:) I flew domestic, as well. Did you fly mostly AM or PM's? I think that the information regarding cosmic radiation is very interesting. Did you always fly a certain position? How about everyone else? I always flew with the closest window at my right side (in the galley - on the jumpseat ...) MargaretEleanor flew right seat in the cockpit...we both had bc in the right.
How about you? -
Carola- you had a lot of good information in yr comments that I want to think about and read more about. My international flights were all at night, so your link between sleep deprivation, lack of melatonin production, and high estrogen levels makes sense to me. I would love to dig around to see if scientifically that could be happening to all the crews flying west to east and missing a nights sleep. Even at base I stayed on that schedule and slept during the day. The jet lag used to kick my butt, and I never figured out a way to feel rested or healthy while on international.
I can't imagine flying 120 hours! Is that block to block? Or include ground time and layovers?
I am loving the show Pan Am also! While I'm home fighting breast cancer a little fantasy flight is just what I need!
Smithy, I cracked up at the soldiers singing "give war a chance." I did one military charter from Florida to Spain. Yikes! The guys were so drunk--brought on their own alcohol. Several had passed out in the bathroom and we just locked them in for landing. We had 6 FAs on a Boeing 707 and I was the ONLY female crew member. Boy, that was murder! Im chuckling now, but i wasn't that night! It is fun to remember the old days :-) -
Most of my flights were at night too and if memory serves me, I usually flew 72 hours months, block to block.
I've been watching Pan Am with great pleasure, even though I think it's not a very good show. The uniforms the ladies wear are two uniforms before I was hired in 1979. Our hats were optional and we took off our jackets and wore aprons during service. No gloves, no girdles but the briefing supervisors did check our appearance, make up and did weight checks. Personally, my life was not quite so glamorous, the pilots were not that young and even in first class, a 707 was not that spacious. Still, I love seeing that Pan Am logo and that beautiful Pan Am blue.
Caryn -
Lindsey,
Ugh, I remember the smoking. We gave out cigarettes in first class at one time. In economy, on the 747, Pan Am tried different ways to configure the smoking section but the air filtration system simply could not handle it. At briefing, it often came down to seniority when deciding who would work in the smoking section (poor junior me!). Even smokers didn't want to work there. BTW, we are the same age and probably had very similar experiences.
Caryn -
Harplu13 - welcome!! I'm so glad you found this forum!! Pink lemonade sounds good right now. Thanks for the Delta info.:) Rads and flying - I'm not sure about that one - that sounds like a question for Carola30!!
Caryn - I breast fed, too. 2 1/2 years - I "read a study." Lol Congrats on becoming a grandmother!! Exciting.:) Do you watch the Pan Am show? I've not seen it, yet. I'm going to have to make a point to check it out. I agree with Carola30 - flying for Pan Am would have been exciting.
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