Could be, according to this article:
healthland.time.com/2011/07/12/the-curious-link-between-allergies-and-cancer/From the article:
"The researchers found that having a contact allergy was associated with a strong protective effect against cancer: those who tested positive for allergies were less likely to develop cancer in later years than those who didn’t have allergies.""A growing body of evidence suggests that our bodies may have natural defenses against cancer, attacking the first signs of tumors much the way we target invading viruses or bacteria. Since allergic reactions are essentially heightened immune responses to often benign compounds, such as dust or nickel or other agents, people with allergies might already be primed for any foreign intruders, including tumors."However,
"The study also found that people with contact allergies were more likely to develop cancer of the bladder, compared with non-allergic people. Why that’s so isn’t clear."Can't say all this did me any good personally (or present company either, I guess). As a life-long ragweed and goldenrod allergy sufferer, having said allergies didn't stop PCa from paying me a visit. But, as usual, these conclusions about
allergy supposedly protecting against cancer are creatures of statistics, and one's individual case may be different.
Of course this thing about
allergies deterring cancer is all still very much in the speculation stage, the above article notwithstanding. But it is also one more road to go down, research-wise, in the hopes that there may indeed be a reward at the end.
On a side note, it's useful to remember that when all other attempted explanations for a mysterious ailment in one's body have failed, it is always possible that what is really going on is it's an allergy. An allergy is not always manifested by something obvious like a runny nose and eyes, or sneezing. It can also be something much more subtle, such as an unexplained skin rash, or an annoying itch, or even just a recurrent pain somewhere. So, if all else fails, consider the possibility that what is really happening is it's an allergy that needs to be investigated. Sometimes suggesting this to the doctor may result in his dismissing it offhand, but it still could be possible.