Blood Type A and Cancer prone

Unsure · Guest

I have read that Blood Type A is more prone to cancer. I have been told I have microcalcification or DCIS in my right breast. My fear of doing a biopsy is will the needle break the integrity of the duct wall and open me up to cancer proliferation?

Guest · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Blood Type A and Cancer prone

Hi,

I have never heard that about the blood type. I am also Type A. Interesting.

I think the answer to your question is "no." I was told when I had my fine needle aspiration that the needle would not "let loose" cancer cells into my body. I have to believe that is true.

I'm sure Dr. Leo will know more about this.

Good luck.

Hugs,

Margie

Tracey · Guest

Hi Unsure,
Unfortunately, that is exactly what seemed to happen to me. Immediately after my biopsy of an area of what appeared to be DCIS, I developed a rapidly growing tumor. My doctor kept assuring me that studies have shown that the biopsy doesn't spread cancer cells, however, there don't seem to be any studies on whether the procedure somehow stimulates the cancer by some other means. At any rate, I don't think there's any other way to diagnose you unless a piece of the tissue is taken and analyzed in a lab. So, even if there are risks associated with the procedure, your only other choice is to agree to a mastectomy or lumpectomy without knowing for sure whether you even have cancer.
I hope this is helpful in some way....Good luck.

leo · Contributor Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1575

These stereotactic biopsies have measures to prevent "contaminating" the tract with neoplastic cells. Special care is certainly taken to avoid these issues. Also, if the biopsy results come back as malignant tissue, you will need some form of surgery, but I wouldn't worry about the above-cited issue right now.

good luck !!

Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

DJ56 · Guest

Ironically, my blood type is A as well. I had heard the same thing about biopsies, and my surgeon reassured me that it would not spread the cancer.

penelopez · Senior User Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 165

I guess we have to believe them or we'd hesitate to have the biopsies and surgeries.

Hugs,

Margie

Leno

Hi guys

You learn something new every day I guess, I had never heard this
at all, I have type A and I also had the stereotactic biopsy, I probably would have done it anyway had I heard what could happen. Everyone makes their own decisions and due what best is for them. good luck

Leno

leo · Contributor Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1575

Hi

I just did a search, and found one article published in 1984, that dismissed the theory of type A and breast cancer.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=6478419

regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

Tracey · Guest

I've heard that people with Blood Type A are more prone to cancer, I read it in the book "Eating Right for Your Blood Type" by Dr. Peter D'Adamo. I'm not sure what the proof behind it is. I happen to be Blood Type A and have breast cancer. I did find that by following a few of the dietary suggestions in the book I started to feel better, have less indigestion, etc., though it didn't rid me of cancer of course! The dietary recommendations also worked for a close friend who is Type A and had such problems with heartburn that she was on a daily prescription medication for several years, despite only being in her thirties. She made some of the dietary changes and was able to go off her medication.

Sharon · Guest

Dear Unsure: You have asked a valid question regarding contaimination and spreading of cancer cells with the needle biopsy. My internist thought the same thing. I wanted him to order the biopsy as my surgeon was on vacation for two weeks. I was reassured from the breast center coordinator who is a nurse that there were no studies which would suggest this. Otherwise, why would they even do them in the first place? One would think all the pressure from the mammogram would do it as well. After talking with the surgeon my internist did order the biopsy and I will take my films and see the surgeon today since they found invasive ductal carcinoma. Keep the faith and asking any and all questions.
Good luck, Sharon

Guest · Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Blood Type A and Cancer prone

[quote="Anonymous"]I was told when I had my fine needle aspiration that the needle would not "let loose" cancer cells into my body. I have to believe that is true. Margie[/quote]

I think there's quite a bit of controversy about whether or not certain surgical procedures can seed cancers. Some doctors and researchers are convinced there's a real risk, while others don't seem convinced or concerned much at all. I had a mammotome biopsy done under ultrasound and had those same concerns. Apparently my surgeon is one of those who believes there's some risk too, because he removed the needle track made by the biopsy during my lumpectomy. Originally I wondered if he really did what he said because my breast looks perfectly normal except for the little scar running across it. But my path report showed one of the specimen dimensions to be over 7 cm and the tumor was less then 1 cm. That 7cm was the needle track, so I guess he really did!!

Anyway, there's lots of info out there on this concern. It's called "malignant seeding" and it's a concern with all cancers, not just breast. You can pull up info on a search engine by using that term along with the term "breast cancer" to make the results more specific. Very Happy

Tracey · Guest

My concern was not just about the needle leaving a trail of cancer cells along the way, but also about the act of puncturing the wall of the duct where the cancer was growing. Basically, I was concerned that the needle would help the cancer break out of the duct. And also that the whole procedure would just get things stirred up somehow. My fears were all realized, unfortunately! Immediately after my biopsy the cancer grew quickly into a palpable, hard tumor. Before the biopsy, there was nothing palpable there and I was thought to have only DCIS. My doctor said they don't think the biopsies stir everything up or spread the cancer, but of course it is not known for sure. There is no other way to go about diagnosing the cancer, however, so we are stuck with this procedure until medicine comes up with something better.

penelopez · Senior User Joined: 11 Oct 2004 Posts: 165

Hi,

Yes, I had heard about the "malignant seeding," although many still deny that it is a problem. I chose to assume that my doctors were smart enough and cautious enough to avoid this. But then again, my husband always says, "Don't assume anything." LOL

I did have the FNA before my lumpectomy so I guess there's a chance that something happened there. What about the mammogram? When they squish the plate down on your breast, couldn't that break some of the cancer cells loose? My tumor was located at a spot where that could have happened (upper inner quadrant). It's all too scary. Guess we just have to do what needs to be done and hope for the best.

Hugs,

Margie

Gail · New User Joined: 29 Oct 2004 Posts: 4

I am interested in Tracey's post on Oct 13, 2004 regarding the book she mentioned: Eating Right for Your Blood Type by Dr. Peter D'Adamo. I was going to check out that book and I was wondering if Tracey could give more information on which things in the book her friend found helpful for her heartburn. I am Type A, just finished chemo and I also have been on medication for heartburn for about a year and would welcome any dietary suggestions your friend found to help. Thanks!

Tracey · Guest

Hi Gail,
Just saw your message. Honestly, it has been so long that I don't recall which foods my friend gave up, but I will email her and try to find out. Since I'm Type A too, I remember being quite surprised at some of the things that the book said were not great for Type A stomachs. I'm not able to eat cucumbers or avocados, they give me terrible stomach pain, and the book confirmed this. But it also listed a bunch of foods that took me by surprise, like cantaloupe, tomatoes and banana, as I recall. I had taken this book out at the library and have always meant to pick up a copy of my own, because it is easy to forget the details yet they do work well when followed. I will let you know if I find out more.

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