This is a bit frightening!

[Logic]

My daughter-in-law has just been diagnosed with PMR,an odd coincidence for is both to have it.She is only 62 years old and Chinese American so there goes the Scandinavian exclusivity. When I got this three years ago,I had never heard if it. Now it seems to be sprouting up everywhere ! She just saw a really great rheumatologist who seems to be up on everything who thoroughly covered everything in this first appointment and she gave my daughter-in-law lots of printed information. One thing scared me as she told her to make sure to make sure to get all cancer screenings such as mammograms,colonoscopies etc.I recently saw a vague reference to PMR and cancer risk? I have an appointment in a coupleof days with my rheumatologist hope to ask him.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

“so there goes the Scandinavian exclusivity. “

Not exclusive, just more likely —

Sorry to hear about your DIL, hope she’ll soon be joining this forum. 😊

Cancer -Some studies show there is a small risk, but they were carried out on an older population, when certain cancers are more likely anyway.

Plus it may be picked up more quickly because those with PMR are undergoing more tests than the general public.

This is just one study - ard.bmj.com/content/73/10/1769

But of course you should ask your Rheumy.

[jinasc]

". One thing scared me as she told her to make sure to make sure to get all cancer screenings such as mammograms,colonoscopies etc."

Notice your in USA - Insurance foots the bill.................

[Logic in reply to jinasc]

Well, insurance foots the bill with money paid by its customers like me who pay hefty insurance premiums. Believe me, they make a fine profit.😉. I am still happy to have it and not ever have to not have worry.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think that tends to be based on a study that found there was an increase in cancer diagnoses in the first year after diagnosis. However, it was accounted for by a) PMR symptoms CAN be symptoms of an underlying cancer and b) patients are under increased medical monitoring so things are found that might not be otherwise.

As DL says - not exclusively found in Scandinavians. but it is likely that if her American heritage were explored they might be a northern European in there somewhere, The incidence in Asians is quite low so she is unlucky. However, a variation of GCA, Takayasu's arteritis was orignally thought to be only seen in young Asian women - that isn't so, it occurs almost equally in all ethnicities but the perception still sticks amongst doctors.

[MiloCollie]

Is he also saying it to make sure there’s no cancer lurking in the background so they know they’re treating the right thing. Don’t let it worry you. We should all keep up with our screenings anyway really x