General Info about HRT & CML side effects

[Guest guest]

Some general information for you to mull over. These are interesting articles I

found by peeking into the archives of Caring 4 Cancer, looking for something we

can all relate to.

" Many women choose to undergo HRT in order to cope with the symptoms of

menopause; however, research indicates that combined HRT regimens that include

both estrogen and progestin may carry more risks than benefits, including an

increased risk of stroke and breast cancer. Researchers affiliated with the WHI

have previously reported that HRT increases the risk of breast cancer and lung

cancer among postmenopausal women. "

" 67 women in the HRT group died from NSCLC compared with 39 women in the placebo

group, leading the researchers to conclude that combined HRT increases the risk

of death from NSCLC by 61%.

" Furthermore, women who smoke should be particularly concerned because they are

already at an elevated risk of developing the disease: in this study the

mortality rate among smokers in the combined HRT group was 3.4% compared with

2.3% among smokers in the placebo group.

" Comments: The researchers concluded that using combined HRT for five or more

years increases a woman’s risk of dying from NSCLC and smokers should be

particularly careful about using combined HRT.

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/news?NewsItemId=43635

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FATIGUE (These quotes may give you a deeper insight as to why we have anemia and

fatigue)

" LEUKEMIA, or " white blood, " is a cancer of the bone marrow. Bone marrow is

actually an ORGAN in the middle of your bones. It produces red blood cells to

carry oxygen throughout your body, white blood cells to fight infection, and

platelets to prevent bleeding and help blood clot.

" The basis of all these cells is a stem cell, also called a " MOTHER CELL " or

" BLAST. " When you have leukemia, the stem cells no longer function properly.

Instead, they become abnormal and are unable to transform into the mature blood

cells and platelets needed by the body.

" Consequently, patients with leukemia begin experiencing fatigue (because red

blood cells can no longer get enough oxygen to tissue, leading to anemia),

infections (because you don't have enough normal white blood cells to fight

foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses), or bleeding (because you don't

have enough platelets to help blood clot or the ones you have don't function

well enough.) "

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/leukemia#Intro

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BLASTS AND SYMPTOMS

" CML occurs when the bone marrow makes too many unformed cells called blasts.

Blasts normally become white blood cells that fight infection. But in CML, the

blasts do not develop and cannot fight infection. Large numbers of these

defective cells collect in bone marrow and blood.

" CML is a “chronic” leukemia because the number of abnormal cells in the bone

marrow increases gradually. These abnormal “leukemia cells” eventually crowd out

the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (blood cells that help

make blood clot) that the body needs. CML can develop over a period of months or

years.

" People with CML usually have no symptoms at first. Eventually, they start

feeling generally ill. They tire more easily and feel SHORT OF BREATH when they

are physically active. Some patients become PALE FROM THE ANEMIA (loss of red

blood cells) caused by CML. Many patients feel discomfort on the left side of

the abdomen from an enlarged spleen. Some patients SWEAT a great deal, LOSE

WEIGHT, and cannot tolerate warm temperatures. "

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cml/basics

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" The main function of granulocytes is to DESTROY BACTERIA. The blasts do not

completely mature and BECOME TOO NUMEROUS. They LIVE LONGER THAN NORMAL, and

accumulate in the bone marrow and blood.

" Initially in CML, there is a gradual increase in mature, abnormal myeloid cells

in the bone marrow. THESE CELLS EVENTUALLY SPILL INTO THE BLOOD AND OTHER

ORGANS, CAUSING SYMPTOMS SUCH AS FATIGUE FROM ANEMIA OR AN ENLARGED SPLEEN. "

(Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD Chairman & Professor, Leukemia Department

MD Cancer Center)

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cml/basics/what-is-chronic-myeloid-leukemia.htm

FYI,

Lottie