Association with cancer

[Karendeena]

I have just read a comment from someone on another forum that cancer is more likely to occur in people with PMR, particularly after 6 months of diagnosis (not sure how PMR knows it's 6 months!). Because one of my blood tests has recently come back abnormal and awaiting a repeat in a month's time as requested by my doctor I am now beginning to panic. Has anyone else been told this? Apparently it was a rheumatologist who gave this information.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Have a look at this study- the results of which seem to indicate it’s not as easy as that - but what is!

ard.bmj.com/content/73/10/1769

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It isn't so much that the PMR causes cancers - although PMR can be caused by a few sorts of cancer and that is why it is a diagnosis of exclusion. You exclude all the other possible causes of the symptoms first - PMR as we discuss it is left.

PMR isn't the disease - it is the name given to a set of symptoms that can have a variety of underlying causes including myeloma and paraneoplastic syndromes.

emedicine.medscape.com/arti...

The increase in cancer diagnoses after a PMR diagnosis is also partly related to the fact that the patient is (usually and ideally) under increased medical observation and that always results in an increase in noticing and diagnosing more conditions.

Kate Gilbert mentions it in her book about her PMR journey - the study had recently appeared and was still "news"

hcplive.com/view/there-link...

ard.bmj.com/content/73/10/1769

are links to the paper and an article about it.

What blood test is abnormal - and HOW abnormal?

[Karendeena in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. I don't know exactly until I manage to speak to a GP which should be Tuesday if I can get through.I have always suffered with my thoracic spine and often get spasms in that area. I am worried about the myeloma bit tbh

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Karendeena]

That should have been ruled out at the start when PMR was diagnosed. It is 3 years since your PMR diagnosis - so the increased rate of cancer diagnosis in the first 6 months is irrelevant to you anyway, Any of us could develop anything - just as if we hadn't got PMR.

Shame you have to wait until after the holiday - and shame on the nurse scaring you like that.

[Karendeena in reply to PMRpro]

I know and thanks again. I had blood tests last year all fine including tumour markers. CT colonoscopy and I get an annual abdominal MRI every year as we have a rare genetic condition in the family that increases the risk of kidney cancer. All was ok then. The back problem has been going on for years.I was diagnosed in May 2021 so just 2 years but 2 years of prednisolone which equally scares me.

Back plays up sometimes and sometimes it doesn't bother me.

[herdysheep]

As we age, our risk increases anyway but we do not know from what base line or what level of risk there is. We do not always know what is round the corner, but at least we are being monitored (more or less) so anything untoward is hopefully picked up early. I was going to say try not to worry too much, but that's a silly thing to say. Hopefully you know what I mean.

[MrsNails]

I’ve had Cancer since being treated for PMR & no one suggested it had anything to do with either PMR or Steroids.

My Surgeon did a lot of research & undertook advice before my Surgery & my Oncologist never saw any connection.

There will always be people who have any condition & may go on to develop Cancer however, it has not been caused by the original condition.

[piglette]

I did have a point where the doctor said “it could be cancer” while he continued to look at his computer screen and tap the keyboard. In my case everything seemed OK in the end. It was the shock and total lack of empathy that really got to me.