Re: RA and Lymphoma

[Guest guest]

When I questioned my Rheumy on the cancer side effects of a bio, namly Remicade,

before I went on it, he said well, RA causes cancer anyway...I'm not quite sure

where but I just try to not think about it.

mary in pa

[ ] RA and Lymphoma

Hi ! Thanks for the info. I'm kind of in freak out mode right now

and am trying to find any info on people who developed lymphoma either

from taking drugs for RA or merely having the disease. Thanks for you

input. Greatly appreciated, Maile

[Guest guest]

Yeah! Me, too! There's a lot to be said for avoiding thinking. There's so many

things over which we have no control and thinking (worrying) won't change any of

them. I try to do what my hubby says he does with his feelings. He just watches

them come & go. So, I watch my thoughts & feelings come & go. Will I become

disabled? Will I get my daughter through college before becoming disabled? Is

my heart giving out or am I just tired because of the RA. Well, I better stop

all this thinking. : )

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[Guest guest]

Maile,

There have been a few reports from members who developed lymphoma, although

I can't think of any recent cases.

The exact chain of events which lead to lymphoma is not known, but RA itself

increases the chance one will develop lymphoma.

There seems to be a link with high disease activity and lymphoma.

It may be that the drugs don't actually " cause " lymphoma, but alter the

already abnormal immune system in a way that allows it to emerge.

It's well-documented that some RA patients who were being treated with MTX

developed lymphoma, and when the MTX was withdrawn, the lymphoma

spontaneously (no treatment) resolved.

You are probably aware that people who are about to embark on treatment with

anti-TNF biologics need to be tested for tuberculosis. This is because, in a

person with latent TB who is treated with a TNF blocker, the TB may become

reactivated. So it's not that the anti-TNF agent " causes " tuberculosis, it

alters the immune system which has been keeping the TB under wraps. This is

not a perfect analogy to the lymphoma situation, but it might be fairly

close.

Not an MD

> [ ] RA and Lymphoma

>

> Hi ! Thanks for the info. I'm kind of in freak out mode right now

> and am trying to find any info on people who developed lymphoma either

> from taking drugs for RA or merely having the disease. Thanks for you

> input. Greatly appreciated, Maile

>

[Guest guest]

I agree. So many things these days cause cancer that those even without RA have

just as high a chance as getting it. In my family, its what everyone has passed

from. My grandfather, a nonsmoker had throat cancer and had his voice box

removed, my other grandfather died of lung cancer, my father died 3 years ago at

the age of 55 three weeks after being diagnosed with AML leukemia. Even though

I have a severe anxiety disorder, I know death is the only thing guaranteed in

life. I try super hard not to look at what, why, or how I will get any further

illnesses. Even those who do not smoke these days get lung cancers and such.

And maybe we will be the ones who do not get any cancers with RA:)

McNally <McNacks@...> wrote: When I

questioned my Rheumy on the cancer side effects of a bio, namly Remicade, before

I went on it, he said well, RA causes cancer anyway...I'm not quite sure where

but I just try to not think about it.

mary in pa

[ ] RA and Lymphoma

Hi ! Thanks for the info. I'm kind of in freak out mode right now

and am trying to find any info on people who developed lymphoma either

from taking drugs for RA or merely having the disease. Thanks for you

input. Greatly appreciated, Maile