Could having cancer, going thru chemo, cause Fibromyalgia? -
10-03-2009, 08:45 PM
I had cancer(in remission now) in 2008, had surgery then immediately followed up with intensive chemo. That went on for what seemed like forever ending early last year. Then came the extreme pain, began in neck,shoulders, arms etc.The pain wouldn't go away, and the more I fought it, the worse it got, didn't know what was wrong. My dr. said it could be fibromyalgia, and now I find out it is. My dr also thinks chemo cause this, or the trauma of cancer and chemo. Has anyone heard this, or know this could happen? I see a neurologist this week, maybe I'll get more answers. Wish me Luck! Gentle Hugs, K
My mom has fibromyalgia. I'm so sorry, it's pretty tough, ehh? Hugs and prayers your way!
I'm not sure, but if that's what he suspects I'd listen to him. I don't know the details of the disease other than it's extremely uncomfortable. The body can do strange things!
just because you have pain, it doesn't have to be FMS....it is possible that the cancer/treatment did permanent damage to the body itself...not necessarily caused another condition
if you break your leg, you are likely to have ongoing pain even after healing...that doesn't mean it is FMS
many docs use FMs as a general label for pain, but it is a specific Nero condition..
that being said...it is believed that a 'susceptibility' exists in people with FMS..and any significant physical or emotional trauma activates it......cancer/treatment is definitely a significant trauma.....the stress on the body causes the brain to go haywire....
very few neurologist know about FMs....
hematologists are the specialist of record..and even most of them are incompetent when it comes to FMs
Fibromyalgia seems to be triggered by stress in some people. One of my friends developed it after a car accident that caused whiplash. So it's conceivable that having cancer and going through chemo could trigger it, too.
The symptoms you outlined do sound like fibromyalgia. Symptoms can overlap with autoimmune diseases and other musculoskeletal conditions, making it difficult to diagnose, although increased sensitivity to pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia. Check out the following symptoms to determine whether you have fibromyalgia or not:
1. Chronic headaches
2. Widespread pain
3. Morning stiffness
4. Fatigue
5. Dizziness
6. Chemical sensitivities
7. Anxiety and depression
8. Nausea
9. Urinary and pelvic problems
10. Numbness or tingling in extremities, etc.