VA MS care handbook & cancer

[Sailorsong]

The other day I got an email from MS society about a teleconference on MS coming up in dealing with the VA social workers and your MS. Too make a long story short while trying to find out more about the teleconference I found a MS handbook on the VA site. It was very interesting reading what was in the handbook in that there were things that the VA should be doing for me that they aren't and also a few things that surprised me.

I think my biggest surprise was that they said MS patients should be tested for cervical and breast cancer yearly. The book didn't say why this was, but it makes me wonder if there is something about MS that can cause certain cancers to start? Or do they share certain genes? PD recently posted about having some tests done that are linked to cancer and some people on here also have cancer. Just makes you wonder!

Dennis

[Cann1980]

If a mammogram does not work they use ultrasound machine.

Younger women and men usually have this due to dense breast tissue. The mammogram is not as great a quality with dense tissue.

This is what I was told and had to have the ultrasound at 27 after the mammogram.

[HVAC]

Many men who were stationed at LeJeune have breast cancer from the water. I was there as a kid. My dad, brother and I all were there and all had cancer. Yes they use mammograms on men.

Alex

[PastorDan]

Dunno, Dennis.  Seems like it would be more difficult, but who knows?

The test my neuro had prescribed worked like this: Sometimes, when the body tries to fight certain types of cancer, it produces certain antibodies that can cross the blood-brain barrier and attack the myelin in addition to the cancer.  This is not really well known or fully understood yet, and seems kinf od rare.

The neurological damage happens no matter the body's progress in fighting the cancer.  Even in those cases when the body defeats the cancer on its' own, the antibodies can hang around and mess upi the brain.

[Sailorsong]

Sarah,

  Yeah, forgot about that! :) Hmmm I wonder how they check men for breast cancer? Is it still called a mammogram? :)

Dennis

[SarahL2491]

Well, men can get breast cancer and do,

[HVAC]

My thinking is that people with MS are so used to pain they may not notice cancer. That is kinda what happened to me. Mostly my problem was the doctors blamed my pain on MS when it was clearly Ovarian Cancer. If I had not had MS my Doctors would have caught the Cancer sooner.

By the time they find a lump a woman has had breast cancer for seven years.

Alex

[Guitar_grrrl]

I'm with Lulu on this one, Dennis.  Funny how they lumped the usual female tests with the MS brochure.  I'm scratching my head over this.

[kwarendorf]

I would have been very surprised if Dennis developed cervical cancer :-)

Kyle

[Sailorsong]

Lulu,

  I wasn't worried for myself, not being a woman.

  What struck me was the wording "Must be initiated to meet the current VHA care guidelines for patients with MS".

Dennis

[Lulu54]

Dennis, as far as I know there is no linkbetween MS and cancer.  Those are two different diseases.  Remember MS is in the central nervous system.  

The mammogram and pap smear are standard female tests and I'm sure they are listed as a reminder that regular tests shouldnt' be ignored and focus only on MS issues.

I hope that helps to put your mind to rest.
Laura