1985 early computer workers r s

[Jsk1950]

Are there many people on here with call who worked on the early computers , IBM , etc ?

[thebigdipper]

Curious question. Why do you want to know?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

I presume you are still looking for answers as to why you developed CLL, given your earlier question about overhead rail lines? I too wonder whether my CLL was perhaps the result of pulling apart electronic components in my teens (and thus being exposed to toxic materials used in their construction), but I also appreciate that the science isn't clear on the likely causes of CLL for me to be really sure. Even if there's some suspicions, I can't see how that can help me live better with my CLL.

'Working on early computers' is also rather vague. Do you mean programming them, constructing them, servicing them or what and if so, what specifically? Are you wondering about exposure to chemicals used in their manufacture or radiation from their operation? Are there other fields where similar exposure was likely?

Neil

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

I used to run punch cards in the mid 1970's and started programing the Apple Macintosh in 1984... so I have had an Apple computer of one sort or another in front of me every day since... 🖥📱💻

Do I think it caused my CLL...doubt it ...with over 1 million epigenetic changes, I tend to lean to the Massive Genomic Rearrangement Acquired in a Single Catastrophic Event during Cancer Development... theory...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I doubt we will ever know the causation... we may each have our own unique cause, a mixture of genes and environmental triggers...

~chris

[virdieblue in reply to Cllcanada]

Very interesting article for people like me who think they remember a precipitating event (true or not...)

[Hidden in reply to Cllcanada]

Ah...The Big Bang Theory, eh?

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Hidden]

Chromothripsis... we know now of clonal evolution, which explains the chomothrpsis was not seen after treatment, but the CLL cancer still progressed... this was unknown in 2012.

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

[Hidden in reply to Cllcanada]

My reply was an obviously failed attempt at a humorous reference to how the universe came to be, or to the lame but funny US sitcom.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Hidden]

I try and avoid U.S. sitcoms whenever possible... the universe is another matter 😀

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

I punched cards for the card stunts at football games in the computer center from 1965 to 1968. It was a large building back then. My I pad can probably do more than everything in that building.

I suspect that my CLL is connected to a history of blood cancers in my family and maybe exposure to car exhaust while teaching next to a major freeway, or perhaps exposure to farm chemicals. I think more about dealing with it in the future than trying to answer an unanswerable question.

[Ernest2]

Interesting.

I notice in an earlier post you mentioned High Voltage.

I've only used computers since the late 1980's and only modest amounts of soldering etc. doing bad electronics in my youth. My job has involved computers to control large electric drives with exposure to up to 5kV.

Funny, as a student I dropped Chemistry as my dad did that and also had CLL. So instead I got into nice clean electricity.

Now I can see the potential to create CLL cures I would be keeping studying the chemistry and biology that I also dropped. Keep the computing of course.

Funny this year found out my grandfather also had CLL and he worked in the coal industry, so my guess about my dad may have been wrong.

So as everybody says:

Best to look forward

And the CLL is probably a mix of genetic and environmental factors. I also think stress may be a factor.

Best regards,

Ernest

[Bluejays]

I worked for IBM for many years , travelled regularly for a while in the last 15 UK to US so exposed to the stresses of business travel and recycled air in planes. Plus I guess in last 15 years more and more wifi signals around the house and just about everywhere you go now. Whether any of this had anything to do with developing CLL who knows as there is no family history as far as I know of any other occurences although the stress idea could I guess be a factor in weakening the immune system allowing CLL a foothold but who knows. Same discussion could be had about living near electricity pylons whether that has an effect on anything. Looking back I dont think any lifestyle changes would have changed the diagnosis it was just going to happen at some point and maybe stress allowed it in.

[RZ8983DV]

I worked as a programmer on IBM mainframe computers in the late 70s early 80s

but was not involved in operating. I don't think it has anything to do with being diagnosed with CLL 25 years later

[lexie]

Over a period of 8 years I visited a local winery that had its vines adjacent to tri-state serving overhead powerlines on transmission towers and wondered if that was the cause. But then it could have been the nuclear power plant that was only 2 miles from my home for 20 years until I moved. Or the homes I lived in that were built on old orchards or landscape nurseries where DDT was used. On the other hand, I know of no one else getting CLL from the same exposures.

[Oleboyredw-uk]

Worked on ICL mainframes as operator them prgrammer in '75-80. Then sysprog on IBM until '87. Joined big blue in mid '80s. Travelled UK, Europe and US in varying degrees. Never really thought the equipment a factor but stress maybe a contributor.

However, open minded to any ideas that help understanding of where I am.

Rob

[Jsk1950]

Thanks for all replys .I worked with the early computers . 6 in a room no Windows and hot room . Got over active thyroid and lost weight to 10 stone being 6 feet tall . At time was told it will be for life . A year later had it no more and now 14 stone

I looked up IBM and notice that a big claim went in 10 years ago in the USA from the staff building the computers claim was for luckemeia diagnosed at least 10 years later

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to Jsk1950]

Do you know which leukemia and the supposed cause of the leukaemia? Some other leukaemias have recognised chemical causes, but for CLL, only Agent Orange exposure is legally recognised as a possible cause.

Neil