Re: Stress and skin conditions?

[Guest guest]

Woody, my understanding is that Down's syndrome confers protection

against most (but not all) types of cancer, probably due to decreased

risk factors (no smoking, drinking, occupational exposures) and

through the same genetic mechanism that causes the cognitive

impairment; Down's Syndrome is caused by an extra 21st chromosome,

which happens to contain many of the genes that control portions of

the immune system, esp suppression of cancer cells.

But having Down's doesn't protect against all types of cancer. A type

of leukemia, for example, is much more common among people with

Down's, and other types of cancer occur with the same frequency as in

the general population. One interesting tidbit: women with Down's

Syndrome rarely get breast cancer, out of proportion to even other

unlikely forms of cancer.

Whatever, people with Down's Syndrome characteristically have the

sweetest dispositions, with unusually trusting and loving souls.

Sadly, they have more than their share of medical problems, but they

are a pleasure to care for. I certainly wouldn't generalize and say

they have no stress; in my experience they feel emotions and react

like everyone else. Unlike some forms of mental retardation there is

no associated emotional or psychological impairment; they frighten

and worry like the rest of us.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> Scientific or not - whenever I am under stress (especially when we

travel) I

> get a nasty case of fungus on the palms of my hands and along the

sides of

> some of the fingers. It itches and burns before it appears - even

though the

> Derm says fungus doesn't do that - so I know what's coming. We're

traveling

> this weekend so - I'm itching, burning and peeling - I don't need

scientific

> evidence.

>

> That also presents a question. Someone once told me that people

with Downs

> Syndrome don't get cancer - no stress - no cancer. Anyone else

hear that

> one?

>

>

>

> Was the outbreak caused by stress? Until now, no scientific

evidence has

> supported that it is.

[Guest guest]

For what it's worth, I've known people with Down's who

have had cancer... people with with Down's are also

prone to certain heart problems, early onset dementia,

and celiac disease, besides the leukemia Marjorie

described.

I don't think it's fair at all to say Down's confers a

stress-free lifestyle. Many folks with Down's push

themselves quite hard. Others are pressured by

families, caregivers, employers, etc. I also don't

think having to struggle to make yourself understood

contributes to a stress-free life!

Suzi

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[Guest guest]

For what it's worth, I've known people with Down's who

have had cancer... people with with Down's are also

prone to certain heart problems, early onset dementia,

and celiac disease, besides the leukemia Marjorie

described.

I don't think it's fair at all to say Down's confers a

stress-free lifestyle. Many folks with Down's push

themselves quite hard. Others are pressured by

families, caregivers, employers, etc. I also don't

think having to struggle to make yourself understood

contributes to a stress-free life!

Suzi

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