HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Can Radiation Cause Multiple Myeloma?

Posted on Mon, 27 Oct 2014

Question: My husband was a patient at the XXXXXXX Clinic 4 years ago, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He worked around and with a device used to measure the density of the soil by using radiation and radioactive waves. The device was turned on before he left his office, and it was carried in the cab with him, he physically carried it to the site (it weighed around 50 lbs)and he was the only one trained to use this..when he carried it, he would hold it against his right hip/pelvic area.. do you think this could've caused the huge mass found in his right pelvic bone?

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Considerations

Detailed Answer:
hello and thank you for sending the question.

It would be very difficult to directly link this particular device and development of multiple myeloma as you have questioned. there would need to be multiple additional patients affected in the same way in order for you to directly link these particular things.

Multiple myeloma can be a difficult disease but within the last several years we have developed many new and very effective therapies.

I completely understand your concern and possible frustration in this case but at this point I cannot see any direct link between this particular device and the multiple myeloma.

Thank you again for sharing your health care concern with us.

Sincerely,

Dr. Galamaga

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Robert Galamaga (41 minutes later)

My husband didn't just work around this for a year or so, he was totally in charge of this, and the only one who operated this machine. This particular device was also backed over while on the job site while XXXXXXX was working with it by another employee... He was also subjected to many chemicals in his 35 years of employment there.. Can you explain to me how a person gets Multiple Myeloma? Thank you

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
we have no good explanation for why myeloma develops.

myeloma is a disease triggered often by a mutation or genetic event in a single cell which then proliferates and leads to the systemic issues associated with myeloma.

again there are no known direct causes of multiple myeloma.

to associate chemical or radiation exposure is presumptive unless we have previously documented cases or clusters of cases directly linked to specific types of exposure.

thanks again for sending your query.

sincerely,

dr Galamaga.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Robert Galamaga (10 minutes later)

Well, in order to have documentation of such a case, doesn't it have to start somewhere? Just b/c there's no other cases documented, it doesn't make it totally out of the question..I know that it's not a hereditary disease, nor genetic. I've been told that.. so just where DOES it come from. I uploaded some chemicals that XXXXXXX was exposed to..He wanted me to know for some reason..

Answered by Dr. Robert Galamaga (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
thanks for the additional information.

Again there have been no documented connections between these chemicals and development of multiple myeloma.
also there appeared to be a multitude of chemicals as well as many many years of exposure so would be extremely difficult to actually contribute to the development of my llama to anyone of these.

If you're convinced however that the chemicals may have contributed to his condition I would suggest that you sit down with his primary care physician and oncologist and document your concerns.

Thanks once again for sharing your healthcare concerns with us.

Sincerely,

Dr Galamaga

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar