Does anyone have a direct stress related event tied to when they think their multiple myeloma became activated?
It seems that perhaps people are exposed to something and then stress activates it? Any thoughts?
Thanks.
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Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
I adhere to the Viral trigger to the start of MM--as it presumptively challenges the Immune system more than a transient stressful period. ie. West Nile Virus, encephalitis, etc.
I have no Nobel Prize after my name, mind you--just a workingman's theory.
I have no Nobel Prize after my name, mind you--just a workingman's theory.
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Rneb
Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
I think stress aggravates everything, so yes, I do think stress contributes to the acceleration of illness, including myeloma, but it is probably not the exact cause or start of it. I think something more direct happens to change the DNA or kick-off-the-cancer in cells.
I was a strong, little woman until I got the worst flu of my adult life in 2008 (had never had flu before). Two weeks after the fevers, aches, upper respiratory symptoms resolved, I went back to work but that night I had abdominal pain so severe I drove myself to the hospital and discovered I had appendicitis and underwent an emergency appendectomy. The hospital told me to get my vaccinations up-to-date so a few weeks after, I went to my PCP and got the DPT vaccinations that were long overdue.
After all of this, I never again felt like myself. This is when the aches, pains and symptoms began. By 2010, I ended up in a rheumatologist office due to weakness, aches, high sed rate, swelling ankles and anemia and was told I had polymyalgia rheumatica (which now I know it was not). By end of 2013, the area above my knee kept blowing up and hurting and I felt so weak and awful I could barely make it up the steps of my two-story house or get through the day, but I was told it was likely rheumatoid arthritis.
When I finally demanded a bone x-ray in December of 2013, a bone tumor was found and a few weeks later, the leg fractured from the plasmacytoma. After that, I ended up in Boston and got the care I needed and was properly diagnosed with myeloma.
Obviously, the myeloma had accelerated in 2013 and I believe it did accelerate due to stress I had experienced the previous two years -- my husband suffered back injury and had to leave his job, we lost our income and had great trouble getting health insurance, my mother in summer of 2013 suddenly collapsed and was at death's edge but recovered enough to be in a nursing home (from West Nile virus - three weeks to get diagnosed - whole other story) and during this time there was extreme tension and squabbling among my siblings about her care.
For two years, I experienced enormous stressors one-after-the-other. Bernie Seigel in his book "Love, Medicine and Miracles" says show me a cancer patient and I will show you someone who has been under severe stress the past two years. Bingo!
So yes, I think stress accelerates cancer, but I don't think it is the direct cause of it. Only my opinion, I am not a doctor.
I was a strong, little woman until I got the worst flu of my adult life in 2008 (had never had flu before). Two weeks after the fevers, aches, upper respiratory symptoms resolved, I went back to work but that night I had abdominal pain so severe I drove myself to the hospital and discovered I had appendicitis and underwent an emergency appendectomy. The hospital told me to get my vaccinations up-to-date so a few weeks after, I went to my PCP and got the DPT vaccinations that were long overdue.
After all of this, I never again felt like myself. This is when the aches, pains and symptoms began. By 2010, I ended up in a rheumatologist office due to weakness, aches, high sed rate, swelling ankles and anemia and was told I had polymyalgia rheumatica (which now I know it was not). By end of 2013, the area above my knee kept blowing up and hurting and I felt so weak and awful I could barely make it up the steps of my two-story house or get through the day, but I was told it was likely rheumatoid arthritis.
When I finally demanded a bone x-ray in December of 2013, a bone tumor was found and a few weeks later, the leg fractured from the plasmacytoma. After that, I ended up in Boston and got the care I needed and was properly diagnosed with myeloma.
Obviously, the myeloma had accelerated in 2013 and I believe it did accelerate due to stress I had experienced the previous two years -- my husband suffered back injury and had to leave his job, we lost our income and had great trouble getting health insurance, my mother in summer of 2013 suddenly collapsed and was at death's edge but recovered enough to be in a nursing home (from West Nile virus - three weeks to get diagnosed - whole other story) and during this time there was extreme tension and squabbling among my siblings about her care.
For two years, I experienced enormous stressors one-after-the-other. Bernie Seigel in his book "Love, Medicine and Miracles" says show me a cancer patient and I will show you someone who has been under severe stress the past two years. Bingo!
So yes, I think stress accelerates cancer, but I don't think it is the direct cause of it. Only my opinion, I am not a doctor.
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Melpen - Name: Melissa
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 5, 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
Hello, my mother was diagnosed March 10 and passed April 23. The year before she had lost her sister, sister's husband, an aunt, uncle, and her mother. She was overwhelmed with grief. She also was stressed because of her work and other issues.
I firmly believe that the amount of stress she was under accelerated her illness.
I firmly believe that the amount of stress she was under accelerated her illness.
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Pammmom
Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
I'm in the environmental camp. The fact that it is genetic in nature points to alteration of the genetic code. The fact that it isn't confined to one particular modification, or none, I think just reinforces the idea. If a mutation is started and it takes years to culminate in multiple myeloma, how do you tie the two together?
We have example of nuclear involvement in parts of Utah following the tests in Nevada. It is rare to have a lot of history to work with for researchers. Throw in that some may be more susceptible than others and it's a mystery that may never be solved.
As far as stress causing it, I don't think so, but I'm sure that in some individuals it may bring it to the forefront.
We have example of nuclear involvement in parts of Utah following the tests in Nevada. It is rare to have a lot of history to work with for researchers. Throw in that some may be more susceptible than others and it's a mystery that may never be solved.
As far as stress causing it, I don't think so, but I'm sure that in some individuals it may bring it to the forefront.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
Speaking for my mom - I don't believe that stress "caused" her to get multiple myeloma.
She was diagnosed last January, 2013 with MGUS. My dad had a massive stroke in July 2013. She was full fledged multiple myeloma by November. I do believe the stress and exhaustion of his illness put her on the fast track.
She was diagnosed last January, 2013 with MGUS. My dad had a massive stroke in July 2013. She was full fledged multiple myeloma by November. I do believe the stress and exhaustion of his illness put her on the fast track.
Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
I believe it did. In the year before I was diagnosed, my wife's promotion forced the family to relocate across the country and me personally to leave a job I loved just as my position was being upgraded and just as I was to start my masters with company sponsorship. I was forced to live away from my family for months while looking for work so I could join them, and when I eventually did find something it was at a much lower level and lower income as there was nothing suitable for me in the new home.
Massive blows to my confidence, self-esteem and ego. The worst part is I couldn't discuss it with my wife because she feels guilty for overruling my concerns and taking that particular job when there was another option at another location that would have permitted my to stay with my then employer in a similar role and continue with my studies.
Since then, the stress has only increased with my insurances being lapsed without authority and now in dispute without them paying a cent to me, being out of work without income since my T4 collapsed in March, and now the bank threatening to repossess our house if we don't pay them the arrears on the mortgage but them refusing to provide the documents necessary for me to draw my superannuation to pay them.
All this as I am about to have my stem cells harvested prior to my SCT. I actually asked them if they were trying to kill me so my wife could pay the arrears with my life insurance.
Massive blows to my confidence, self-esteem and ego. The worst part is I couldn't discuss it with my wife because she feels guilty for overruling my concerns and taking that particular job when there was another option at another location that would have permitted my to stay with my then employer in a similar role and continue with my studies.
Since then, the stress has only increased with my insurances being lapsed without authority and now in dispute without them paying a cent to me, being out of work without income since my T4 collapsed in March, and now the bank threatening to repossess our house if we don't pay them the arrears on the mortgage but them refusing to provide the documents necessary for me to draw my superannuation to pay them.
All this as I am about to have my stem cells harvested prior to my SCT. I actually asked them if they were trying to kill me so my wife could pay the arrears with my life insurance.
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Paul H - Name: Paul Harvey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Did stress contribute to your getting multiple myeloma?
Paul H., sending positive thoughts and prayers your way!
Kully
Kully
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kullybunnny1 - Name: Kully
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 48
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