CancerCompass message board discussion started by mmsurvivor on 1/11/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19635,0.htm Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I was just reading a post that spoke of MM and heridity, it was thought that is was more environmental thane heridity.  Well I think it both...Mine was influenced by environmental factors but several of my relatives have contracted this disease. We live in different countries...so this is just another hypothises.  I believe we have  Pre MM tendencies in our bodies and when subjected to negative environmental factors the MM then blossoms. mmsurvivor Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 1/11/2008 mmsurvivor wrote:I was just reading a post that spoke of MM and heridity, it was thought that is was more environmental thane heridity.  Well I think it both...Mine was influenced by environmental factors but several of my relatives have contracted this disease. We live in different countries...so this is just another hypothises.  I believe we have  Pre MM tendencies in our bodies and when subjected to negative environmental factors the MM then blossoms.I think you are exactly correct. A few of us have discussed that there is both an environmental factor and a genetic predisposition.Best regards to you and your family.Craig  photog Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening MMS;This was on the home page of CancerCompass I only listed a portion for comment:The International Myeloma Foundation Identifies Potential Link Between Genetic Pathways And Environmental Risks For MyelomaNewsRx.com December 20, 2007The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) - supporting research and providing education, advocacy and support for myeloma patients, families, researchers and physicians - said findings from its myeloma DNA bank identified genetic links to bone disease in multiple myeloma, a cancer of cells in the bone marrow, that in some cases can also include bone deterioration. These findings also may both support and explain associations that have been observed between environmental toxins such as dioxins and benzene, and an increased risk for myeloma. The findings were made with resources from Bank On A Cure(R) (BOAC), the world's first repository of DNA samples created to advance the understanding of myeloma. They will be presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of The American Society of Hematology in Atlanta on December 11th (Abstract #816). The study found that genetic pathways associated with the ability to neutralize environmental toxins are defective in patients with classic myeloma (myeloma with bone involvement). These pathways are identified as specific segments of genes called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs that are known to be associated with toxin metabolism and DNA repair. These findings are in line with observations of patient populations and groups of workers including firefighters that had previously demonstrated a correlation between increased risk for myeloma and exposure to hydrocarbons and related chemicals....This would support your feelings that it is a combination of genetics and environmental exposure. And I'm also leaning in that direction. Whether it's a DNA defect and/or a diet created enrironment that allows the cancer to flourish within our bodies.I wish there was an in depth survey being done questioning MM patients about their prior work history or possible exposure to the triggering agents perhaps then the Drs. will be able to narrow down a cause and search for the elusive cure!Take care;Kevin K. C. Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT