It seems to me that more than a few multiple myeloma patients are avid bicyclists. Makes me wonder if huffing and puffing for hours and hours every week while on top of an asphalt road, with some exposure to exhaust, could be a risk factor for multiple myeloma.
I'm not a bicyclist.
But I think the highest risk thing I've done is to apply herbicides with a backpack sprayer. I'm also exposed to other risk factors as a farmer, but I think the worst was when I was working my cardiovascular system hard while inadvertently inhaling herbicide drift (backpack spraying).
Being exposed to certain chemicals -- oils, etc. -- is one thing, but to breath them in deeply for hours at a time has got be an exceptionally higher rate of exposure.
Just a thought.
Forums
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
Two thoughts in return:
1. It COULD be that the avid bicyclers who participate in multiple myeloma forums and groups represent a group of folks who, because of their healthy exercise habits, are more likely to still be here, still be active, and still be interested in all things ... including interacting with other multiple myeloma patients.
You know ... kinda like the guy who noticed that when his cruise ship sank, only the swimmers made it to the life boats, and determined that only swimmers took the cruise?
2. On the other hand, I haven't been on a bicycle for four years, and that was an embarrassing reminder of why I hadn't been on a bicycle for the previous 45 years. So perhaps your observation is sort of like the guy who's looking for a new car, is thinking seriously about a bright red Mustang convertible, and suddenly sees a whole bunch of 'em on the roads where he hadn't noticed them before. Observation bias. Doesn't mean that all the other cars disappeared.
3. Or ...
Ah, foof it. I mess up the stats for multiple myeloma in all sorts of ways anyway, so what do I know?
Perhaps, though ... I should try to get on that bicycle one more time? Once I find a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and training wheels?
1. It COULD be that the avid bicyclers who participate in multiple myeloma forums and groups represent a group of folks who, because of their healthy exercise habits, are more likely to still be here, still be active, and still be interested in all things ... including interacting with other multiple myeloma patients.
You know ... kinda like the guy who noticed that when his cruise ship sank, only the swimmers made it to the life boats, and determined that only swimmers took the cruise?
2. On the other hand, I haven't been on a bicycle for four years, and that was an embarrassing reminder of why I hadn't been on a bicycle for the previous 45 years. So perhaps your observation is sort of like the guy who's looking for a new car, is thinking seriously about a bright red Mustang convertible, and suddenly sees a whole bunch of 'em on the roads where he hadn't noticed them before. Observation bias.
Doesn't mean that all the other cars disappeared. 3. Or ...
Ah, foof it. I mess up the stats for multiple myeloma in all sorts of ways anyway, so what do I know?
Perhaps, though ... I should try to get on that bicycle one more time? Once I find a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and training wheels?
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
Great points.
I love the car analogy. That happens to me all of the time -- ha.
It was just an observation on my part though. I cringe when I think of the hours I spent walking up and down rows with a backback sprayer, heart rate of 160, (getting in shape). All the while inhaling deeply the air around me. I'd be willing to bet exposure levels to everything are much higher while exercising. I wonder if there is any research out there studying that?
But to add to your point, bicycling is one of the easiest sports for your joints and bones (not mountain biking), so that could also skew multiple myeloma patients towards biking. Although it seems many posters here were avid bikers before diagnosis.
Exposure to oils and solvents are one of the known risk factors, and I imagine asphalts roads emit high levels of those, not to mention auto traffic smog.
That being said, chances of getting of multiple myeloma are so small when compared to heart disease and other no-exercise diseases, that I'm sure bikers live longer than your average person.
I love the car analogy. That happens to me all of the time -- ha.
It was just an observation on my part though. I cringe when I think of the hours I spent walking up and down rows with a backback sprayer, heart rate of 160, (getting in shape). All the while inhaling deeply the air around me. I'd be willing to bet exposure levels to everything are much higher while exercising. I wonder if there is any research out there studying that?
But to add to your point, bicycling is one of the easiest sports for your joints and bones (not mountain biking), so that could also skew multiple myeloma patients towards biking. Although it seems many posters here were avid bikers before diagnosis.
Exposure to oils and solvents are one of the known risk factors, and I imagine asphalts roads emit high levels of those, not to mention auto traffic smog.
That being said, chances of getting of multiple myeloma are so small when compared to heart disease and other no-exercise diseases, that I'm sure bikers live longer than your average person.
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stann
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
The cruise ship analogy is great, dianaiad.
Still, I found Stann's question intriguing. It doesn't take long once you've read enough about myeloma to start sensing a link between the disease and exposure to hydrocarbons (oil, gasoline, benzene, etc.) and their fumes.
Take the case of this myeloma patient who was recently profiled in a local newspaper in Pennsylvania,
http://citizensvoice.com/news/gene-bolis-used-strength-determination-to-battle-multiple-myeloma-1.1701100
Guess what his occupation is? He owns and operates a gas station.
Thanks for the posting Stann.
Still, I found Stann's question intriguing. It doesn't take long once you've read enough about myeloma to start sensing a link between the disease and exposure to hydrocarbons (oil, gasoline, benzene, etc.) and their fumes.
Take the case of this myeloma patient who was recently profiled in a local newspaper in Pennsylvania,
http://citizensvoice.com/news/gene-bolis-used-strength-determination-to-battle-multiple-myeloma-1.1701100
Guess what his occupation is? He owns and operates a gas station.
Thanks for the posting Stann.
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Jonah
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
Stann's point also would suggest that people who go jogging on busy roads might also be increasing their risk of developing myeloma. And the risk might be higher if they regularly jog in warm or hot weather when the fumes from the accumulated oil and fuel on the road surface might be elevated compared to colder days.
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
I doubt that cyclist are any more exposed to car exhaust that those driving in the cars. It is not like the car has an air filtration system than can eliminate the pollutants that enter the car from the air intakes at the base of the windshield. A car on the road and a cyclist on the road are breathing the same air. Cyclists tend to avoid the most heavily trafficked roads while many people spend much more in cars on densely packed roads.
In southern California here in the last year some studies made the news that did find that people living near freeways corridors that had higher air pollution did have higher incidences of a number of health ailments. I do believe that vehicle exhaust is not good but the biggest factor to exposure is probably where you live and how much time you spend driving on congested roads.
In reading about myeloma over the last couple of years I have come across information on studies that have shown a link between increased risk to those who work in the petrochemical industry and with agriculture chemicals. I did not see anything that found a connection to a specific chemical compound or compounds though.
In southern California here in the last year some studies made the news that did find that people living near freeways corridors that had higher air pollution did have higher incidences of a number of health ailments. I do believe that vehicle exhaust is not good but the biggest factor to exposure is probably where you live and how much time you spend driving on congested roads.
In reading about myeloma over the last couple of years I have come across information on studies that have shown a link between increased risk to those who work in the petrochemical industry and with agriculture chemicals. I did not see anything that found a connection to a specific chemical compound or compounds though.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
I am one of the avid cyclists that you have read about. For me, my love relationship with the two wheel machine intensified after, not before my diagnosis. Prior to diagnosis I would classify my biking as recreational and not regular. Now I am a regular, but I do it as a way to fight back, relieve stress, see the countryside, improve my cardio, reduce weight and put my focus on something other than myeloma etc. etc.
I ride mostly on country roads where the traffic is minimal, so I am not breathing in toxic fumes. Being outdoors in the fresh air and exercising is better for ones health than staying indoors, which has its own risks of breathing in noxious fumes and chemical agents that in our houses and offices.
Ron
I ride mostly on country roads where the traffic is minimal, so I am not breathing in toxic fumes. Being outdoors in the fresh air and exercising is better for ones health than staying indoors, which has its own risks of breathing in noxious fumes and chemical agents that in our houses and offices.
Ron
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
Having been an avid cyclist for many years, and a runner as well, this suggestion is intriguing.
I know that there have been studies of the health effects of exposure to asphalt building and construction products during manufacture and initial installation, but I am not aware of studies regarding exposure to those products once they have been installed and cured. I know that there is rarely any discernible petrochemical odor from roads except in certain areas during extended very hot weather but I am not sure what that proves or disproves.
I suppose that there are many potential causes of myeloma and I know of no broad on-going study which attempts to identify them. Perhaps your reaction is the same as mine: I already have it so I am less interested in identifying the cause than the cure, unless of course if identifying the cause helps identify the cure.
For now at least, the benefits, both physically and psychically of riding outweigh the risks for me.
I know that there have been studies of the health effects of exposure to asphalt building and construction products during manufacture and initial installation, but I am not aware of studies regarding exposure to those products once they have been installed and cured. I know that there is rarely any discernible petrochemical odor from roads except in certain areas during extended very hot weather but I am not sure what that proves or disproves.
I suppose that there are many potential causes of myeloma and I know of no broad on-going study which attempts to identify them. Perhaps your reaction is the same as mine: I already have it so I am less interested in identifying the cause than the cure, unless of course if identifying the cause helps identify the cure.
For now at least, the benefits, both physically and psychically of riding outweigh the risks for me.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
I am happy to be cycling again, on the cycling / pedestrian pathways in our city. There are hundreds of kilometers of pathways here, and many of them are 'twinned' ... one path for walking, one for cycling. There are many cyclists who use the pathways to commute to work. I just go out recreationally and am up to riding about 30 km now (18 miles). I consider it to be part of a fitness routine that also includes walking, going to the gym, and aqua size exercises in a pool. It's just important to keep moving!
The speed limit on the pathways is only 20 km (12 miles)/hr., and I doubt that I exceed that, and I do wear a helmet!!
One of my myeloma friends here, who was diagnosed a year or two ahead of me, encouraged me to get back on my bike and ride. I was really terrified (not too strong a word) after having the fractures I did. But I haven't fallen so far and really enjoy riding here. I doubt I would ride on highways though.
The speed limit on the pathways is only 20 km (12 miles)/hr., and I doubt that I exceed that, and I do wear a helmet!!
One of my myeloma friends here, who was diagnosed a year or two ahead of me, encouraged me to get back on my bike and ride. I was really terrified (not too strong a word) after having the fractures I did. But I haven't fallen so far and really enjoy riding here. I doubt I would ride on highways though.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Biking - a potential risk factor for multiple myeloma?
Hi Eric,
The difference between the commuter and the bicyclist is that, although the two breathe in the same air, the bicyclist is breathing in deeply and rapidly.
My main question came about due to so many bike enthusiasts on this forum. It just makes me wonder if there is a relationship between multiple myeloma and where people exercise.
Does an avid runner/bicyclist in the city have a higher risk of multiple myeloma than an avid runner/bicyclist on the coast for instance?
I have been exposed to pesticides for years, and I do not think that alone has lead to any increased risk on my part, other than when backpack spraying. I just "know" that huffing and puffing while spraying was one of the more risky behaviors I engaged in with regards to multiple myeloma.
I'm sure the benefits of biking far out weigh any increased risk associated with getting multiple myeloma.
The difference between the commuter and the bicyclist is that, although the two breathe in the same air, the bicyclist is breathing in deeply and rapidly.
My main question came about due to so many bike enthusiasts on this forum. It just makes me wonder if there is a relationship between multiple myeloma and where people exercise.
Does an avid runner/bicyclist in the city have a higher risk of multiple myeloma than an avid runner/bicyclist on the coast for instance?
I have been exposed to pesticides for years, and I do not think that alone has lead to any increased risk on my part, other than when backpack spraying. I just "know" that huffing and puffing while spraying was one of the more risky behaviors I engaged in with regards to multiple myeloma.
I'm sure the benefits of biking far out weigh any increased risk associated with getting multiple myeloma.
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stann
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