Chemicals

Morning CurlySue123

Just hopped the fence from another group after reading your chemicals comment and couldn't read and run.

I wouldn't beat yourself up worrying about things in the past you had no idea may cause harm at a later date.  I worked with many chemicals and solvents during my 30 years in the print trade and right the way thorough from the mid 70's chemicals, solvents di-isocyanates etc which were heavily used and all gradually banned over a 20 year period because of H&S issues and alternatives found.  Most were inhalation or skin contact issues which has left me with mild COPD and who knows what the future may hold and if anything else pops up like 'Whack-a-Mole'

You can't undo what you may have been in contact with and certainly had no idea at the time they may have been harmful. Like all the builders who inhaled asbestos dust prior to it being linked to Mesothelioma. There a few products that are known to be able to cause cancer in specific areas but mostly it is down to a rogue gene and bad luck.

Hope this is of some help, take care, G n' J

Hello zxcv

I've had a number of conversations with oncologists and cancer surgeons. There has been no significant research into the cause of BC and all of those medics have told me it's the luck of the draw. Interestingly, I and three former pub industry colleagues have had BC so we are sure that tobacco smoke may be one cause - and none of us smoked but we were in and out of smoky pubs for 30 years. 

I agree, don't beat yourself up, there is nothing to be done but look forward to the other side of your treatment.

CB

Hi zxcv,

The most common risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking. My mother had bladder cancer and was a smoker. When I was diagnosed I did ask if there was a hereditary link but the consultant said there wasn’t much evidence or research on this. I’ve never smoked but as she pointed out I was exposed to smoking at home when I was growing up and at work, cinemas etc until it was banned in public places.

As CB has said, don’t beat yourself up about why you have it’s usually circumstances beyond your control.

Best wishes Luce

Just to echo the above. Smoking and contact with chemicals are a contributing factors to BC, but the bottom line is many people here have had no contact with either. In many cases it is just pot luck. Try not to worry about things you have no control of. Just on smoking, my oncologist reckons smokers have more chance of getting bladder cancer than lung cancer. In my case it is my own fault as I smoked since I was thirteen. I blame the vicar's son for teaching me. Best wishes.

I'm sure my bladder cancer was caused by smoking. Never crossed my mind that chemicals in cigarettes would damage my bladder though when you think about it of course it's obvious. But we all live our lives best we could. I blame Benson and Hedges personally

Other than smoking, I believe age is the main factor. But there is so much unknown. Both my brother & I have had BC (he around his early 50s, me in my late 50s), but I was told highly unlikely to be genetic. Neither of us have smoked nor been significantly exposed to smokers - most likely some exposure to an unknown toxin in our childhoods, or a genetic susceptibility to toxins.

It's interesting that many people seem to feel the need to identify the cause of a condition they develop (not just cancer, I've noticed it in my eye clinic) as some previous behaviour. Why should we want to make ourselves feel any guilt?  If someone else might be liable, that's a different matter.

Alas, in many cases it's just the way of life, that things go wrong in our bodies. Nothing we can do about the past, but try to lead healthy lives in the future. At least aim for happiness!

The environment which we live in could add to this, car fumes are said to be far worse than smoking, hair dye or anything like that.   I read an article on the area where I grew up & they were looking in to the high rate of cancer deaths, also where I live now is the same.  My cancer wasn't linked to any cancer that family members had.   I just accepted that I had it & it didn't matter to me where it had come from as it wasn't going to change anything.  It could be just the luck of the draw I think, someone has to have it why not me?  

Hi zxcv, I do agree with all the other posts on the theme that you are where you are and certainly guilt won't help your body get the most benefit from the treatment. However I'm another person always looking for causes. I feel if I can identify a risk factor, by warning others I may do some good, this tends to motivate me.

There are several factors not mentioned in this discussion yet. Electromagnetic radiation I believe is not as safe as the government, driven by business interests, would have us believe. I heard of a man whose wife was not getting pregnant. He did a sperm test and was found to be non fertile at that time.On advice from Belinda Barnes, who told me about this, he placed his mobile and pager on the passenger seat of his car instead of in his two trouser pockets. Four months later they were expecting. See how I'm thinking?

Another possible issue is that a diet low in antioxidants -this is a big part of why the government rightly push the 5-a-day fruit and veg campaign,, does not give your body the wherewithal to nobble cancers before they cause trouble.

Whatever the cause, the best you can do now is live as healthily as possible and that includes distracting yourself from over-worrying about anything under the sun, good luck with doing so.

Best, 

Denby