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Mary Launer, who is afflicted with a rare disease called MEN 2A, stands on her porch recently in Sierra Pines Mobile Park, Grass Valley. According to a new book, Abraham Lincoln may have suffered from the same disease.
Mary Launer couldn't believe her eyes when she turned to the Wellness section of the Union Nov. 30.
The rare genetic disorder, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, that has afflicted at least 20 family members, and often causes cancer, was the subject of a Washington Post syndicated article linking it to Abraham Lincoln.
The article was about a new book coming out, that theorizes Lincoln had something called MEN 2B, a strain of the disease, and was cancerous when slain by John Wilkes Booth.
"I was tickled to death to see it in the paper because people need to know this disease is out there," Launer said.
She knew the MEN diseases were rare, but she didn't know there was a distinct cluster in her family after reading that only about 500 Americans are known to have them.
The Grass Valley woman and her family have MEN 2A, a different strain that almost always causes thyroid cancer if left alone, according to the Johns Hopkins Thyroid Tumor Center.
There is no cure for the MEN diseases, and if there is no known family history, the only symptoms are overactive secretion glands, like the thyroid.
The rare genetic disorder, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, that has afflicted at least 20 family members, and often causes cancer, was the subject of a Washington Post syndicated article linking it to Abraham Lincoln.
The article was about a new book coming out, that theorizes Lincoln had something called MEN 2B, a strain of the disease, and was cancerous when slain by John Wilkes Booth.
"I was tickled to death to see it in the paper because people need to know this disease is out there," Launer said.
She knew the MEN diseases were rare, but she didn't know there was a distinct cluster in her family after reading that only about 500 Americans are known to have them.
The Grass Valley woman and her family have MEN 2A, a different strain that almost always causes thyroid cancer if left alone, according to the Johns Hopkins Thyroid Tumor Center.
There is no cure for the MEN diseases, and if there is no known family history, the only symptoms are overactive secretion glands, like the thyroid.
One of the recommended treatments from the center for MEN 2 of both types is to immediately remove the thyroid gland.
That's exactly what Launer and other relatives have done since 2003, when the gene and cancer were first discovered in daughter Vickie Baggett of Crescent City. Some, like Launer, have managed to dodge the cancer, but a number of them had already developed it and are now being watched closely.
"I have the gene and three of my six children have the gene," said Launer, 81, who had her thyroid removed three years ago.
The oldest three children did not inherit the gene and are free from the disease. The younger three did and all have had cancer.
"My son with cancer has two daughters without the gene," Launer said. "How it skips around is anybody's guess."
It didn't skip Baggett, whose doctor discovered a tumor on her adrenal gland while dealing with another malady. The clue that she might have a MEN disease was that she was getting large shots of adrenaline from her over-active adrenal glands at inappropriate times.
After finding the tumor and the gene, Baggett had her adrenal, thyroid and hyperthyroid glands removed.
"They thought I was the first to have it in the family," Baggett said.
That's exactly what Launer and other relatives have done since 2003, when the gene and cancer were first discovered in daughter Vickie Baggett of Crescent City. Some, like Launer, have managed to dodge the cancer, but a number of them had already developed it and are now being watched closely.
"I have the gene and three of my six children have the gene," said Launer, 81, who had her thyroid removed three years ago.
The oldest three children did not inherit the gene and are free from the disease. The younger three did and all have had cancer.
"My son with cancer has two daughters without the gene," Launer said. "How it skips around is anybody's guess."
It didn't skip Baggett, whose doctor discovered a tumor on her adrenal gland while dealing with another malady. The clue that she might have a MEN disease was that she was getting large shots of adrenaline from her over-active adrenal glands at inappropriate times.
After finding the tumor and the gene, Baggett had her adrenal, thyroid and hyperthyroid glands removed.
"They thought I was the first to have it in the family," Baggett said.
When her mother was tested and the gene was found, the family was alerted and urged to get tests as well. Sixteen of the 26 tested were positive.
"Three-fourths of them had their thyroids taken out," Baggett said.
Looking back, Launer and Baggett think a number of family members had the gene and subsequent cancer without ever even knowing it.
"My maternal grandmother died at 35 of cancer, so we think probably it was that," Launer said. "My brother died at 52 with cancer and another nephew died at 54 of cancer."
Some family members don't want to acknowledge the gene, but most others simply deal with it, both Baggett and Launer said.
"I'm on thyroid medicine the rest of my life, but nobody's playing the blame game." Launer said.
Baggett has been told she may not have a lot of time left, but remains upbeat.
"Three-fourths of them had their thyroids taken out," Baggett said.
Looking back, Launer and Baggett think a number of family members had the gene and subsequent cancer without ever even knowing it.
"My maternal grandmother died at 35 of cancer, so we think probably it was that," Launer said. "My brother died at 52 with cancer and another nephew died at 54 of cancer."
Some family members don't want to acknowledge the gene, but most others simply deal with it, both Baggett and Launer said.
"I'm on thyroid medicine the rest of my life, but nobody's playing the blame game." Launer said.
Baggett has been told she may not have a lot of time left, but remains upbeat.
"With this type of cancer, you can't get radiation or chemo because they can't do anything for you," Baggett said. "They just have to watch you and when they find a tumor, they take it out and you go again.
"My prognosis is life is what happens in between doctor's appointments," Baggett said. "Any day above ground is a good day."
ooo
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
MEN disorder
Is an affliction that strikes males and females, despite its name, which stands for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia. It is a rare, inherited condition that causes adrenal, thyroid and hyperthyroid glands to be overactive and leads to cancer.
For more information, contact Vickie Baggett at (707) 464-7066, or log on to the Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders at www.amend. org.uk.
"My prognosis is life is what happens in between doctor's appointments," Baggett said. "Any day above ground is a good day."
ooo
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
MEN disorder
Is an affliction that strikes males and females, despite its name, which stands for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia. It is a rare, inherited condition that causes adrenal, thyroid and hyperthyroid glands to be overactive and leads to cancer.
For more information, contact Vickie Baggett at (707) 464-7066, or log on to the Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders at www.amend. org.uk.
