By The Old Sarge

Even old sergeants have to work for a living after hanging up the uniform. My job at Allsup is to write about Social Security Disability Insurance and healthcare issues. Sometimes I concentrate on how these issues affect military veterans; sometimes I write about topics that affect all of us.

I was doing some research today about February being National Cancer Prevention Month when I stumbled across recent reports about lupus and cancer. It appears that, as if lupus patients don’t have enough to deal with, there may be links between lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease, and certain types of cancer.

Medical researchers at Johns Hopkins University believe there is an increased risk of lupus patients also getting non-Hodgkin lymphoma or lung cancer. There also are reports showing a higher risk of cervical cancer for those with lupus.

More research is needed into the effects of lupus, medications to treat lupus and incidence of cancer. One physician, providing insights through the Lupus Foundation of America, said those living with lupus can reduce cancer risks by making healthier lifestyle choices, such as quitting smoking.

Click here for more information on lupus, and visit your family doctor if you believe you have symptoms.

Also, keep an eye out for the Lupus Foundation of America’s Help Us Solve The Cruel Mystery^TM national tour. A bus is traveling to cities across the country, providing resources and information to residents of cities including Raleigh, N.C. (March 2) and Richmond, Va. (March 16), as well as Cincinnati, Detroit, Boston and New York. Find more at Allsup.com.

Through these awareness efforts and continued research, more will be understood about this serious illness that affects more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. If you’d like to share your lupus experience, visit Allsup on Facebook.