Question Re: Family History And Doctors Comments

[young5849]

Hi--I do not have celiac, but my mother did. My mom died 10 yrs ago with cancer, she first had cancer in the small bowel, which was removed with surgery, and chemo kept it clear for about 4-5 years. Then she developed a blockage in her duodenum, that turned out to be cancer and she died with that.

Here is my issue: Yesterday, I saw a new doctor for unrelated issues, and when we did the history and I told her my mom had cancer twice (I used the word lymphoma), and that it was caused by the fact that she was an undiagnosed celiac .... until her first cancer biopsy. Thus destruction of the digestive system, leaves a fertile ground for cancer. The doctor said that, research now shows the cancer is unrelated to the celiac and I should be worried about it as a family history --genetic--- thing. OR she said really my mom may not have had cancer and she really had blockages caused by the celiac.

So I am confused, I understand that research has progressed, since my mom was alive but I really am on top of our family medical history (I think?). So anyone have any comments or information on this?

[AmandaD]

That's funny you discuss this.

After I was diagnosed by biopsy a few weeks back with Celiac - my childhood pediatrician (friend of my family's) called me and said something similar - that they're linking lymphoma is less and less connected with actual Celiac - in fact, the scientists aren't a hundred percent sure if it's just that they see more intestinal lymphoma in a Celiac patient because Celiac's are inherently seeing the g.i. doc more often...I hope that makes some sense...but what you talk about is interesting.

May I ask who your doctor is and through what medical system?

Hi--I do not have celiac, but my mother did.  My mom died 10 yrs ago with cancer, she first had cancer in the small bowel, which was removed with surgery, and chemo kept it clear for about 4-5 years.  Then she developed a blockage in her duodenum, that turned out to be cancer and she died with that. 

Here is my issue:  Yesterday, I saw a new doctor for unrelated issues, and when we did the history and I told her my mom had cancer twice (I used the word lymphoma), and that it was caused by the fact that she was an undiagnosed celiac .... until her first cancer biopsy.  Thus destruction of the digestive system, leaves a fertile ground for cancer.  The doctor said that, research now shows the cancer is unrelated to the celiac and I should be worried about it as a family history --genetic--- thing.  OR she said really my mom may not have had cancer and she really had blockages caused by the celiac.

So I am confused, I understand that research has progressed, since my mom was alive but I really am on top of our family medical history (I think?).  So anyone have any comments or information on this?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[young5849]

She is a gynechologist (sp?) in New York State. USA. Is that what you mean by who the doctor is?

[skbird]

Interesting - well if lymphomas are genetic and Celiac is genetic, maybe they are related on that level? So possibly not caused by Celiac but genetically predisposed to both? Or people who have both in their family are just doubly unlucky?

Interesting...

Stephanie

[Merika]

My grandmother had (and died of) those same blockages you talk of, at least I'm pretty sure that's the kind of blockage it was. She was undiagnosed celiac. She didn't have cancer though.

I think there is so much they don't know about celiac, and I think we'll all be learning a lot more about it in the next 50 years, now that actual research money and (some) public interest is going into it.

Merika