Multiple Sclerosis and Breast Cancer

this is for samboro: ,all 3 girls including me, had breat cancer, yet when i had the genetic testing, it was negative. so go figure!!

  I was the only one out of us 3 gradma, mom and sister.. 4 of us.. that had a bmx, and i am soo happy, when they did the bmx, they found both breasts were involved, and the cancer was plastered on my chest wall!!

  I've had a tough time with chemo, because i have had MS for over 20 yrs..

  All that said, I learned later that a Bmx doesn't garentee any better odds then a lumopectomy.. so, it's a real personal discusioon. one you need to think carefully before deciding, if your'e not in crisis now..

 I wish you well, and if you want any info, etc, you can pm me, as i'm not here a lot of the time, but will get an email alert if someone sends me a pm.. 3jays

AthenaB, I believe there is only a handful of us with MS (at least on this thread) and the thread has been pretty quiet recently. There is a thread for those with family members who are stage IV. I'm sure you will find a lot of support there. FYI, Its my understanding the stage IV threads are exclusive to the patient with stage IV breast cancer. It is definitely A LOT to digest in the beginning. I have wondered if there is any correlation between MS and breast cancer or MS therapies causing breast cancer. My neurological said there was an actual study done showing decreased rates of breast cancer for those on Avonex. That was interesting. I wish you and your Mom the best as you move forward.

thank you so much for your kind words - ill check out the other threads. I wish you the best and to be strong.

I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer a year ago, so I am just finishing up Herceptin. I think I have MS, I have been having alot of trouble with my muscles, fatigue, weakness, numbness,balance, tight band feeling in my muscles. All of my muscles have had me 100% paralized for about 15 min andI my husband call 911. I thought I was having a stroke. Then I looked up muscle disorders and it showed MS and when I read it, all of my symptoms fit with MS. I will get a spinal tap inthe last 2 wks in August. I am so scared. 

Live2Love2Laugh,

So sorry your going through this after all the tx you've endured. I know this sounds insensative but I hope your sysmptoms are related to your BC tx. BC SUX but at least there are options to hopefully "CURE" you?? MS has no cure. There are only disease modifying drugs that hopefully are slowing down the progression. I managed to be very active and phys tuff REALLY, for many years w the MS, I didn't even know I had it for a long time, which is the case for many MSers. Mine was accidently found via MRI in 2001. no spinal tap.

In 2009 I had a relapse, my first severe attack with double vision, vertigo, and nystagmus. I ended up w permanent damage to my eyes and am now disabled.

BC sux, but for me MS sux more. Let us know how it goes.

I hope your spinal tap goes well and nothing is found in your fluid!

Live Love Laugh......You have the right idea.

xox............Maureen

Chef, I had the same exact attack as your 2009. What damage were you left with if you don't mind me asking. So scary!

Oh lord Maureen. I had the same EXACT visual symptoms and you describe it perfectly! Wow! LSD trip is right. I told people at the time that I would rather be in the dark blind than be left like that. I also had facial twitching for months and the nystagmus and twitching would rear it's ugly head about once a year for quite a few years. I too have horrible fatigue and brain fog. I feel like tamoxifen may flare things up a bit. You are now "secondary progressive"?? How do they know??

Hi Chef,



Wow, so sorry the MS took a turn. I don't notice any trouble with balance since DIEP. He took a small strip of muscle on each side. So far so good. Tummy tuck has been disappointing actually as it is not flat. :-(



I too am concerned about ms drugs. Waiting for MRI results and then will probably be going on again.



I'd better try to sleep. Talk to you soon.

White matter in MS is usually associated with MS lesions. I can't believe the dr didn't say anything else yet. Are they new, are they active. Have You been dx'ed with MS yet? Was this your first MRI? My MS was immediatly dx'd with my first MRI and no further testing.

Good Luck w the MRI results..........xox maureen

I think the most definitive test for MS is a spinal tap. they check for certain protiens in the fluid. Many MSer's spend a lot of time and go through a lot of testing before getting thier Dx. Why not go right to the spinal tap?????????

When I was dx'ed it was upsetting but I was relieved to know I wasn't crazy. some of the symptoms are crazy. I hope you soon get answers..............but MS really SUX. xox

Hi just found this forum

If it is any help I have MS and Breast cancer. I am 56 yrs old



I was diagnosed with MS in 1984. It's been quite a long difficult journey and now I can walk very little and use a wheelchair. That said, I have had a good full life with family, friends, work and many interests. You adapt to the different challenges and get on with it.

In oct 2012 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I couldn't believe it. I was very fearful of treatment and how I would cope with it all. I had a mastectomy then rads. The oncologist was concerned about chemo as she thought it would be too much. She consulted my neurologist who said go ahead she will be fine and I was.

I am not saying it was a walk in the park but I got through it and it wasn't too awful. I am now on hormone therapy and finding that quite difficult but I hope I can cope with it.



So really I just wanted to say if you have ms and get bc you will hopefully be able to deal with it.

Since that 1st episode, I have signs all the time. The muscles twitch in my face alot,and a little in legs and arms. Brain fog have a hard time spelling, and finding words when talking. Very forgetful, lots of fatigue.Numbness and tingling, off and on with balance issues. Sometimes I get starry vision.

Chef 127- I hope that your doing better that sounds so scary. I hope that I don't have MS but its not looking very good on my end, I see the oncologist to day and I will see if I can get some more info. on my MRI.

Beckers- I had the MRI with the contrast to.

Nice to meet everyone, thanks for your help.

Live, it sounds like you may have 2 small areas of active MS. :-( are you having symptoms right now?

Yes, my face muscles twitch all the time, lots of fatigue,hard time focusing, all over headache, and numbness. 

Live2,

Get a copy of your MRI report. good to have for future reference. I don't recall what mine stated re the size of the enhancements, I'll dig it up, but it did say probable MS, and I was symtom free? unless I accepted any symtoms as part of me. After the Dx I assumed I had a benign form of MS...til the one and only severe attack.

There is a possiblity that the chemo you had is the cause of your symtoms?? Chemo is damaging. Chemo brain, neuropothy, either way it SUX.Do you know what your next tests for MS are? Good luck.

My MS has always been PAIN FREE. Lucky me. I was advised to take arimidex. I chose not to because the anti hormonals are toooo powerful (effective for er+ BC) but I don't want to gamble with my sparce estrogene. MY choice. I take DIM etel and a herbal tea to balance the hormones. I wonder if the menopause contributed to that MS attack as well as the ER+ BC. The timing is close.  curious. I'd rather balance the hormones as opposed to enilating it??