Guide To Dermatomyositis Complications And Related Conditions

Cancer

An individual with dermatomyositis is more likely to develop cancer than someone not affected by the condition. Cancer is a condition in which a mass of cells grow too quickly and multiply more rapidly than healthy cells. These cancerous cells are of no benefit to the body, causing damage and overcrowding in healthy tissues. Cancer develops when there is a problem with the DNA of a cell where it malfunctions and tells the cell to grow and divide out of control. Any mechanism that causes cellular damage or a high cell turnover rate in the body causes an individual to be at an increased risk of developing cancer. Dermatomyositis patients have a high cell turnover rate in their muscle tissues because of the damage caused by their overactive immune system. The high cell turnover rate in the tissues of an affected individual provides more opportunity for a cellular mutation to occur that initiates the formation of cancer in the affected connective tissues.