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Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
Benzene. My husband was a W4 and flew both helicopters and fixed wings for the Army. He smelled of fuel everyday with his flight suits and the JP 4 fuel he was exposed to. We are awaiting an appeal for 3 years now. Multiple Myeloma is approved for benzene if you were in Vietnam. He went in a year after. Benzene is benzene, whether Agent Orange or JP 4 fuel. We have two letters from two different oncologists (from Moffitt and Rapid City, South Dakota) stating they believe that benzene was the culprit. Wait until December- March 2019 for decision. Keep fighting.
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DaleJC28117 - Name: Dale
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
In my simple mind, myeloma is a group of plasma cells with cytogenetic and/or trisomic mutations that have an eternal life. What ultimately causes the mutation and the eternal life of the plasma cells seems to have various candidate causes, none of which are fully proven and often are found to be inconsistent.
As an example, obesity and adipose tissue is said to be a risk factor for the bone marrow environment, and yet many suffers of myeloma are marathon runners and regular cyclists. Other causes are often suggested, e.g., modern pesticides, and yet these things were not around in ancient Egypt and myeloma was.
I guess I am waiting for science to explain the root cause of the myeloma cell mutations and discover a way to more effectively kill those plasma cells that have an eternal life.
As an example, obesity and adipose tissue is said to be a risk factor for the bone marrow environment, and yet many suffers of myeloma are marathon runners and regular cyclists. Other causes are often suggested, e.g., modern pesticides, and yet these things were not around in ancient Egypt and myeloma was.
I guess I am waiting for science to explain the root cause of the myeloma cell mutations and discover a way to more effectively kill those plasma cells that have an eternal life.
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wenlock00 - Name: Wenlock00
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
In regard to the comment above,
Although JP 4 fuel apparently did contain benzene, Agent Orange did not.
Agent Orange consists mainly of two herbicides, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, and traces of dioxin. The first of the two herbicides, 2,4-D, is still very widely used, but the second, 2,4,5-T has been phased out due to toxicity concerns.
It's the traces of dioxin in Agent Orange, however, that are believed to be the reason for the health problems associated with the defoliant.
Cheers!
"Benzene is benzene, whether Agent Orange or JP 4 fuel"
Although JP 4 fuel apparently did contain benzene, Agent Orange did not.
Agent Orange consists mainly of two herbicides, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, and traces of dioxin. The first of the two herbicides, 2,4-D, is still very widely used, but the second, 2,4,5-T has been phased out due to toxicity concerns.
It's the traces of dioxin in Agent Orange, however, that are believed to be the reason for the health problems associated with the defoliant.
Cheers!
Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
Beg to differ about benzene and Agent Orange. Plenty of articles that state otherwise. See, for example,
"The known content of Benzene rings in herbicides sprayed in Vietnam, is an inherent part of Agent Orange structure (dibenzo-p-Dioxin)"
Reference:
Veterans Administration Docket No. 03-11 902A (Citation Nr: 0812788, Decision Date: 04/17/08) (full text of decision)
Cheers.
"The known content of Benzene rings in herbicides sprayed in Vietnam, is an inherent part of Agent Orange structure (dibenzo-p-Dioxin)"
Reference:
Veterans Administration Docket No. 03-11 902A (Citation Nr: 0812788, Decision Date: 04/17/08) (full text of decision)
Cheers.
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DaleJC28117 - Name: Dale
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
Dale,
There seems to be some confusion here on some basic issues, and the legal document you quoted doesn't help the situation.
Scientific studies that have found a link between benzene and cancer have focused on benzene as a chemical by itself (C6H6), i.e., the liquid that is found in crude oil and many refined crude oil products, including JP 4 fuel.
There are, however, many substances that have benzene as part of their chemical structure. Scientists would never say that these substances "contain benzene", any more than they would say that a chemical "contains water" just because "H20" is part of its chemical structure. More importantly, the research linking benzene with cancer has not been about chemicals that contain benzene in their chemical structure. As I mentioned above, the research has been about benzene in its pure form, whether alone, or mixed in with other chemicals. Again, "mixed in" doesn't mean "in their chemical structures".
If you're thinking that chemicals that have benzene as part of their chemical structure must be bad too, and that they also probably cause cancer, you couldn't be more wrong.
You know that medicine you take regularly for headaches, aspirin? It contains benzene as part of its molecular structure.
You know those important treatments for multiple myeloma, Revlimid and Velcade? They contain benzene in their molecular structures, as do many other myeloma treatments.
Ditto for the important cancer drug Taxol (paclitaxel) and countless other medicines and common substances.
None of these substances "contain" benzene. They just have "benzene rings", or "benzene" for short, in their chemical structures.
The herbicides in Agent Orange have benzene in their chemical structures, just like aspirin, Revlimid and Velcade have benzene in their chemical structures. None of these substances, however, "contain" benzene in the sense that matters when it comes to the research that has linked benzene with cancer.
There seems to be some confusion here on some basic issues, and the legal document you quoted doesn't help the situation.
Scientific studies that have found a link between benzene and cancer have focused on benzene as a chemical by itself (C6H6), i.e., the liquid that is found in crude oil and many refined crude oil products, including JP 4 fuel.
There are, however, many substances that have benzene as part of their chemical structure. Scientists would never say that these substances "contain benzene", any more than they would say that a chemical "contains water" just because "H20" is part of its chemical structure. More importantly, the research linking benzene with cancer has not been about chemicals that contain benzene in their chemical structure. As I mentioned above, the research has been about benzene in its pure form, whether alone, or mixed in with other chemicals. Again, "mixed in" doesn't mean "in their chemical structures".
If you're thinking that chemicals that have benzene as part of their chemical structure must be bad too, and that they also probably cause cancer, you couldn't be more wrong.
You know that medicine you take regularly for headaches, aspirin? It contains benzene as part of its molecular structure.
You know those important treatments for multiple myeloma, Revlimid and Velcade? They contain benzene in their molecular structures, as do many other myeloma treatments.
Ditto for the important cancer drug Taxol (paclitaxel) and countless other medicines and common substances.
None of these substances "contain" benzene. They just have "benzene rings", or "benzene" for short, in their chemical structures.
The herbicides in Agent Orange have benzene in their chemical structures, just like aspirin, Revlimid and Velcade have benzene in their chemical structures. None of these substances, however, "contain" benzene in the sense that matters when it comes to the research that has linked benzene with cancer.
Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
Dale and Ian -
As a chemist who spent a number of years specializing in dioxin analysis, I can tell you that you're both correct.
Ian - You are correct that a chemical that contains a benzene ring is not the same as benzene itself in terms of its toxicity, its chemistry, etc. There are many beneficial chemicals which have benzene rings as part of their structures. Vitamin B12 would be an example.
Dale - You are correct that benzene was used together with Agent Orange. I did not know this until I looked up some articles to see if this really was the case. Like just about any other herbicide formulation, Agent Orange was used with dispersants to help get the active ingredients spread out and in contact with the plants that were targeted. Those dispersants were petroleum based and contained at least some benzene. Those on the ground who might have been exposed to Agent Orange from a plane that was spraying it are not expected to have had much contact with the benzene (if any), as benzene evaporates quickly and would have been gone before it got to the ground. It seems to me, though, that the people handling the herbicide prior to its being sprayed could well have been exposed. (That's just my non-expert opinion, though; I don't really know what went on with that.) In any case, the dioxin in Agent Orange has received the bulk of the attention due to its very high toxicity, its status as an endocrine disruptor, and the studies showing that exposure to it can cause cancer and other ill effects. That doesn't mean the benzene in the Agent Orange dispersants wasn't also important.
As a chemist who spent a number of years specializing in dioxin analysis, I can tell you that you're both correct.
Ian - You are correct that a chemical that contains a benzene ring is not the same as benzene itself in terms of its toxicity, its chemistry, etc. There are many beneficial chemicals which have benzene rings as part of their structures. Vitamin B12 would be an example.
Dale - You are correct that benzene was used together with Agent Orange. I did not know this until I looked up some articles to see if this really was the case. Like just about any other herbicide formulation, Agent Orange was used with dispersants to help get the active ingredients spread out and in contact with the plants that were targeted. Those dispersants were petroleum based and contained at least some benzene. Those on the ground who might have been exposed to Agent Orange from a plane that was spraying it are not expected to have had much contact with the benzene (if any), as benzene evaporates quickly and would have been gone before it got to the ground. It seems to me, though, that the people handling the herbicide prior to its being sprayed could well have been exposed. (That's just my non-expert opinion, though; I don't really know what went on with that.) In any case, the dioxin in Agent Orange has received the bulk of the attention due to its very high toxicity, its status as an endocrine disruptor, and the studies showing that exposure to it can cause cancer and other ill effects. That doesn't mean the benzene in the Agent Orange dispersants wasn't also important.
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Mike F - Name: Mike F
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 18, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: What causes multiple myeloma?
My husband was exposed to JP4 fuel as an Army pilot. His flight suits wreaked of this fuel. Pilots dipped their fingers in the fuel for part of their preflight. His myeloma specialist and oncologist (who was also military) believe strongly the benzene in JP4 fuel and his exposure to this in the military. His oncologist even cited several cases where this is the case.
Multiple myeloma is presumptive for Agent Orange with that era in the military, so if someone goes in one year after Vietnam and exposed to this chemical in JP4 fuel, it seems to me it should be presumptive as well. But I am just a nurse, not a chemist, although I trust that two experts who deal with this cancer daily would have some significant knowledge in reference to this horrible cancer. I attached the part of the letter that sites specific literature and cases.
Multiple myeloma is presumptive for Agent Orange with that era in the military, so if someone goes in one year after Vietnam and exposed to this chemical in JP4 fuel, it seems to me it should be presumptive as well. But I am just a nurse, not a chemist, although I trust that two experts who deal with this cancer daily would have some significant knowledge in reference to this horrible cancer. I attached the part of the letter that sites specific literature and cases.
- oncletter.jpg (64.61 KiB) Viewed 459 times
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DaleJC28117 - Name: Dale
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 57
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