I apologize in advance if too personal... | Autism PDD

i'm not going to go through the whole medical history of everybody in my family, but psychiatric issues, yes. cancer, yes. my daughter has autism and her father has a cousin with autism. i also believe my paternal grandfather had many autistic characteristics.

After my dad came home from doing his military stint he did too.  But today that would be considered battle fatigue, or that is what they called it then.  Doesn't mean he had autism or was on the spectrum.

Tammy

The only cancer in my family was my grandpa passed away 4 years ago of prostate cancer at age 86, but I hear almost every man will eventually get prostate cancer if they live long enough......

Also although I suspect possible bipolar in my daughter she is not by the same father as my autistic son and it would be from her fathers side if that were the case because he has all sorts iof mental issues and there are known that I know of dx's in my family depression yes....

So no I cant see cancer as a factor in it all

I'm doing health research for another child of mine (nt), and came across an article linking familial coincidences of Cancer + Psychiatric issues + Autism...that are all commonly linked by something called SV-40.

May I just ask are all three of these apparant in families?  I know I've heard mentions of BiPolar, depression, etc. along with children with Autism, but is cancer in your families as well?  as a 3rd link?  (any incidence of myeloma?)

Again, I'm SO sorry, I'm sure this is personal, but I thought worth the question.
Example: I heard my mother (never knew her) was manic depressive, my father passed from cancer when I was 18, and we have strong suspicions of my son being autistic (with supporting CARS/GARS/Adaptive Behavior tests, but not what I'd call a "professional" dx yet). 

Thanks, Lesley

No there is no link with cancer in my family.  Now my uncle on my dad's side had lung cancer, but he smoked over 3 packs a day.  My grandfather on my mom's side had kidney cancer but he never smoked or drank.  And my father died from Hepatitis C he got during a blood transfusion during either WW2 or Korean War.

Tammy

Cancer yes, mental illness yes, and a few spectrum children in the family to include my own.

Karrie

The mental illness is present in my family directly in my linage and with a few of my uncles.

CANCER That is also a big concern in our family. Noone has died young from cancer but we have had several cases of melinoma (both my Dad and Mom) and also cancers later in life.

I also have a cousin on my Dad's side whos son has autism and that is the side that as far as I know mental problems aren't present.

Nelle

Yes, it is interesting....I just don't know if it's because there might be something to it?  or maybe it's just because the prevalence of cancer is so great these days.  I'm gonna keep reading...if I learn anything new, I'll let ya'll know. 

Thank you to everyone for sharing.

My mother and 2 of her siblings and possibly her father all had some form of mental illness.     My husbands family showed many characteristics common to autism or aspergers.     We have a son with AS and one with HFA.   I have often questioned the link.    Do our genetic markers when combined lead to autism?   We also have 2 NT kids.    my hubby and I both have aunts who have had cancer.

Very interesting isn't it seeing as so many of us are having similar responses!!  
Cancer yes, Ovarian lost mother (35)and then aunt 6 mths later at 38.no mental issuses other than the physc doc said carlo may have some bipolar issuses. i do havea 2nd cousin with severe autism .mom2carloOur family has a big cancer history (breast cancer in particular ... *gulp*) and some depression (but no one was ever officially diagnosed as depressed ... they just acted that way!).  No one on either side has ever had autism or any learning disabilities for that matter! My DH's family definately has Cancer and Psychiatric issues.  We suspect there is autism, but no one has been diagnosed until my daughter.  My daughter has a cousin who has is on Ritalin and sleep aids.  We think that he falls on the spectrum. 

Cancer yes, Depression YES but no spectrum anywhere that we know of!My mom is adopted so we are un sure there but there are a few other mental illinesses in our familys! we are considering getting a blood test to see if it is the single Gene answer! 

Correction! My daughter is the only one on the spectrum in either family! But sometimes My other have tends to show alot of the signs!
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