9/11 Responders May Be At Raised Myeloma Risk

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I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in February 2010 only because I had some bloodwork done otherwise I was feeling just fine, then in March it turned into Multiple Myeloma, I have been going for a low dose chemo once a week since 4/22/2010. My blood levels have improved 90% since. I am 60 years old and in very good health otherwise. From what I have learned there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma at this time. I will be going into the hospital in November for Stem Cell treatment (some of my own blood will be taken out which takes 7 hours and then they will clean it up and put back in) then I will be undergoing heavy chemo which will affect my immune system and will be in the hospital for at least 3 weeks, after that I will be required to wear a mask and gloves anytime I go out. In 2005 I had a non-cancerous brain tumor, 2 ruptured discs and a torn rotator cuff, then in 2008 I had Endemetrial Cancer which resulted in a full hysterectomy. I am a survivor and keep a very positive attitude that I will survive this new disease I have acquired. I'm not a very religous person but all my family and friends pray for me every day.

Donna of RI 7:05AM September 17, 2010

My mum passed away a couple of months ago at just 47 from a very aggressive form of myeloma and although we were told when she was diagnosed 2 and a half years ago that some chemicals can be a trigger, we racked our brains trying to find what she might of been exposed to. She was a chef, so I dont think that the cause is always that clear.

Helen 1:32AM March 20, 2010

My wife passed from Myeloma in 2005, and I consider myself a lay expert on the caregiving of a myeloma patient. I'm much less of a lay expert on treatment and toxicology, but I know a bit. That said, I wanted to impart a bit of my insight into this terrible disease.
Getting a cancer like Myeloma is a multi-step process [from Bergsagel]. That is, you just don't have a single "bad gene" day and get one DNA strand broken, transcribed, or some other mutation and all of a sudden get cancer. But, you can have a bunch of "bad gene days" (about 3 days that really count [again, Bergsagel]) and get cancer. It all starts with one rogue cell. If you do the calculations (a "cell doubling" math exercise)--it takes most myeloma patients about 10-12 years for the disease to show up (usually as an anemia or a broken vertebrate). If 9/11 cases are showing up now, then these myelomas are pretty aggressive by this measure. By aggressive, I mean that there isn't just one kind of myeloma--there are several. In fact, some cancer scientists say there are as many types of myelomas as there are myeloma patients (because of uniqueness in DNA/treatment plan/age/lifestyle, etc.) If these cases are showing up 8-9 years later--(and as the article pointed out--in young people) they are aggressive in terms of "cell doubling" time.
All this DNA uniqueness makes toxicology really hard to study in humans. But, having buried my nose in rat & dog studies, I suspect many of the 9/11 Myeloma cases were exacerbated by a "bad DNA day" from breathing old pre-2002 carpet ScotchGard. In pre-2002 ScotchGard, PFOS was used as a carpet protector--a substance now banned.
I've looked at chemical exposures during my wife's past lifetime pretty hard. My wife used to have her carpets in FL cleaned monthly and ScotchGarded. I suspect it contributed to her experiencing several "bad gene" days (days where her DNA was slightly altered in the multi-step process moving towards a diagnosis of Myeloma.) Some days your DNA can repair itself (like your skin does when you damage it from UV sun radiation--getting sun-burned is a bad DNA day.) Some days, no repair is made--an accident. As a backup, some of your white blood cells can eat cancer cells Pacman style. But--they have to find them! Some escape self repair or Pacman-like white blood cells ->cancer.
That shared, if your loved one who worked in 9/11 cleanup now has Myeloma, perhaps this will help in your understanding of this terrible disease.
If you'd like to contribute to the research & cure of Myeloma--I recommend Kathy Giusti's MMRF (Multiple Myeloms Research Foundation) group. Kathy herself has Myeloma (MGUS variety) so she's highly motivated to make sure your contribution dollars are only spent towards finding a cure. Myeloma is currently incurable--Kathy is most motivated to use your contributions wisely.
Regards. And a final please--please don't smoke, get sunburned, or other "stupid DNA tricks". Those are most certainly "bad gene" days.

Skip Bogard of NC 1:18PM August 21, 2009

I got multiple myeloma, more and more i research it seems that certain chemicals are the # 1 contributor to these malignant desease. I guess the million dollar question is, who is going to challenge big oil and hold them responsible with a guilty veredict?
Speaking with my doctors off the records, they mention BENZINE as the main chemical, but none of them will go on record ! i have been treated by doctors that pretty much righted the protocols for agressive treatment on cromossom changes and lambda controls.
I' have been exposed with hands on on a variety of chemicals during my 44 years, none of the warning labels mention possible cancer if coming in contact with the product... Today i have spend all my savings including my 4 kids college tuition and does not end. I got Steam cell transplant, which i am under recovery, in a period of 12 months it become my full time job, just trying to stay ahead of this desease, seaching for the main core cause in hopes that it could be prevented for other lives once it be made public.
AGAIN WHO WILL GO ON RECORD FROM THE MEDICAL COMUNITY EXPOSING BIG OIL???

Ed. Calmon of FL 10:16PM August 20, 2009

My husband was a responder at the Pentagon attacks on an evidence response team. He was diagnosed 10/06 with multiple myeloma, and died of it 3/08. He was 42 when he was diagnosed--much younger than the typical age for the disease. Having been a picture of health and the office health nut, we were surprised when he came home from a run with hip pain. He treated it as if it were a strained hip flexor, but after 2 weeks, went to the doctor. We were astonished to find that cancer had eaten the hip ball. More texts revealed the multiple myeloma. This hero not only leaves me, his wife, behind, but also our 5 children. Is there a connection to 9/11? Only the Lord knows. I'm sure my late husband has asked that question already.

Tresa Roth of VA 11:05PM August 10, 2009

It’s heartbreaking and tragic that these heroes have to suffer from these illnesses. Sadly, thousands of responders are “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” wondering if they or their colleagues will be next; and many of them continue to suffer emotionally from their experiences as well. They were just doing their job on September 11th, trying to save others, and now their lives may be taken from them. How many more stories like this do we have to hear before the government passes the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act? This should have been put through years ago! They deserve better than this. I’d like to respectfully recommend a heartwarming documentary, VITO AFTER, which takes an intimate look at 9/11 responder (NYPD homicide detective) as he refocuses his life and copes with the emotional and physical impact of his rescue and recovery work. www.vitoafter.com for more info. I also highly recommend Arnie Korotkin’s listserve, it has a wealth of information on 9/11-related topics: http://groups.google.com/group/911-list-serv

Maria P of NY 7:42PM August 10, 2009