HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Speculation about chemo-induced anemia (and possibly leukopenia as well)

dlaxague · 06-16-2007, 07:01 AM

Hi Margerie and all,

Thanks for the links. This is my favorite kind of discussion where we are all thinking, thinking, and sharing ideas.

I looked around a bit with google, also. I didn't find much, and most of what I found was looking at increased cosmic or ionizing radiation at high altitude and an increase in cancer incidence. One study of mice showed an increase in cancer at altitude over time (1969). There does not seem to be much interest in this subject (judging by the lack of research). There was a lot of interest in studying airline personnel, again r/t mostly to radiation exposure at altitude but also to interrupted circadian rhythms and other lifestyle factors.

Your first two links were interesting but hardly conclusive. The last one was pretty out-there - this MD evidently has his own theories and a very pricey clinic where people learn his special technique for relieving asthma, but his theories are not supported by mainstream medicine (which is not to say he might not be onto something but if he is, he needs to show some evidence.).

So I'd say that while it is intriguing and could be true (or not), it would not be accurate at this point to say that it is "pretty well known" that there is less cancer at altitude. And I'm not sure it will ever be known, given the many confounders that would exist when comparing populations.

Debbie Laxague

06-16-2007, 07:01 AM	#10
dlaxague Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 221	Hi Margerie and all, Thanks for the links. This is my favorite kind of discussion where we are all thinking, thinking, and sharing ideas. I looked around a bit with google, also. I didn't find much, and most of what I found was looking at increased cosmic or ionizing radiation at high altitude and an increase in cancer incidence. One study of mice showed an increase in cancer at altitude over time (1969). There does not seem to be much interest in this subject (judging by the lack of research). There was a lot of interest in studying airline personnel, again r/t mostly to radiation exposure at altitude but also to interrupted circadian rhythms and other lifestyle factors. Your first two links were interesting but hardly conclusive. The last one was pretty out-there - this MD evidently has his own theories and a very pricey clinic where people learn his special technique for relieving asthma, but his theories are not supported by mainstream medicine (which is not to say he might not be onto something but if he is, he needs to show some evidence.). So I'd say that while it is intriguing and could be true (or not), it would not be accurate at this point to say that it is "pretty well known" that there is less cancer at altitude. And I'm not sure it will ever be known, given the many confounders that would exist when comparing populations. Debbie Laxague