Hello friends:
After 3 and 1/2 years of GCA and prednisone, I think I’m pretty much free. I’m down to 1 mg every other day. As providence has dictated, I was just diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, which is an aggressive and unforgiving cancer. My question regards my current Immune state and if it would have any power to fight the cancer. Also I’m wondering if prednisone is a precursor to cancer or if GCA is.
As always, thank you for your kind help.
Dear Snerd, wishing you courage, serenity, successful treatment and supportive family and friends. As far as precursors, I have not seen any material about PMR being a prequel to cancer. Environment, genetics, smoking, alcohol and no identifiable cause I've heard of. Bless you.
Thank you so much!
oh my goodness that’s a real shocker for you and understandably you’re asking questions. Having worked with people with cancer and having had it myself and been given 2 years max in 2004, there is often no rhyme or reason as to how well people can survive it. I worked with someone who was found to have multiple tumours from an ovary 30 years ago and chemo was a to give her a little time. I saw her at a reunion this summer. I have seen it work the other way too. One has to plough one’s own furrow because we never know in which statistical camp we are. Healing, I’m sure, comes from many things, not just one’s immune system on paper. Steroids are sometimes linked to increased incidence of cancer but they are also used a lot in cancer treatment. I had bucket loads of steroids that are stronger than Pred as do many many people. What leads us to malignant disease is likely a long road of insults just as we probably had before GCA. One has to nurture one’s body and spirit to meet whatever comes next.
oh no! What a bummer. I’ve not seen any thing about links but who knows. Possibly just a coincidence. Whatever it is I’m sending you virtual hugs. Look after yourself.
I’m taking your Hugs! ❤️
I am sorry for your very worrying and unfair diagnosis. My instinct tells me that your tiny Pred dose will be negligible in the fight against cancer. I do not recall reading about any proven link with the diseases. Our avid researchers may come up with something. Please let us know what happens. I hope it doesn’t sound trite to say that there has never been a better time to face cancer in terms of the knowledge and options available. Kind wishes Jane xx
Thank you darling
I’m sorry that you’ve been given this diagnosis. Wishing you all the very best with your treatment. Much love 💐
Sorry to hear your news… and you’ll find quite a few on here who have come through cancer successfully.
General consensus of opinion suggested that GCA patients are no more at risk of cancer that those without it, but perhaps they are better monitored and it may be detected earlier.
All my very best.. 🌸
Thank you dear Dorset
sending you wishes for the best possible outcome and a comforting hug 🤗
Sorry to hear that. All I can say is good luck.
I don't think pred predisposes to cancer and it is often used in oncology as part of the treatment, both as it has an effect on the cancer itself and to reduce inflammation.
MrsNails had both PMR and BC, and I'm pretty sure hers was triple neg though I might be wrong.
So sorry to hear this. Sending you loving thoughts and virtual hugs. I wish I could do more x
Thank you my darling
Nightingale, you can sing me a song. Thank you for your sweet comments.
Hugs from Canada. My cousin also has pmr/gca and has just had her spleen removed because her platelets were dangerously low. They tried everything. She now has Pancreatic Cancer which runs in our family.
My hugs and prayers go to both of you. I look at us a survivors. 🥰
Sending gentle hugs. Cancer has touched all our lives one way or another. My mother, uncle, aunt, father in law and husband have all had cancer. I've looked after every one of them. As someone has already said, treatments are so much more advanced. Had my mum been diagnosed now I think she would have had a chance of being cancer free. Let's hope you get a good medical team around you. Will be thinking of you xxx
More knowledgeable people than me have commented on the possibility of links, but so sorry to read of your diagnosis. Just when you see to greeting over one thing life seems to this way of of sending something else to upset the apple cart. Sending many hugs and best wishes. 🫂🫂🤗🤗
Thanks ever so much, Bcol
Hi, l’m so sorry to hear your news, l too had TNBC Grade 3, Stage 3 & it was an aggressive Tumour with Multiple DCIS’s
I found the lump myself less than 3months after a Routine Mammogram! I had a Mastectomy with Sentinel Node Removal followed by Chemotherapy. There is no adjuvant therapy for TNBC unfortunately, however at the time a Trial of Zolendronic Acid was being recommended for Post Menopausal Women, l had 6 in total over three years. That was in 2015 & despite everything else, l’m still standing!….
There are several others on here who have also had BC during their PMR journey……
If you have any questions, please ask.
All The Very Best
MrsN 🩷
TNBC - Triple Negative Breast Cancer ie not Hormone Driven
DCIS - Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Sending you love, hugs and prayers to see you safely through your treatment. ❤️🤗🙏
Big toe pain this morning 
Stress, patience and big decisions
Return to big brother house
Depression has set in big time
