Re: Cimzia/biologics/lymphoma- Steph. in VA?

[Guest guest]

Hi Steph- How does the Remicade compare to Enbrel? Any notable side effects?

Do you take other meds? As for the Lymphoma stuff... I figure it's all a coin

toss. I live for today, my young kids could care less how I am feeling. I

still need to get up each day and make breakfast! Life does not come with any

guarantees, I could get hit by a bus tommorrow and this is all moot. I guess I

go with, whatever it takes to get you through today and I'll worry about

tommorrow later.

D. in south Louisiana

--- In , DeNicola- <stephdenicola@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi all,

>     This is Steph in VA. Just a note regarding biologics and risks of other

diseases like lymphoma. RA affects the body like a cancer in the fact that our

immune systems are all screwy. This is one of the reasons why MTX is effective

for RA treatment. If you read the side effects of MTX, they include blood

related cancers like lymphoma. Well, surprise surprise, MTX is used to treat

lymphoma. If you are taking MTX for it, go in remission and then relapse, your

lymphoma is listed as a side effect.

>     By having RA we are automatically at higher risk for other immune diseases

like cancer.

>     I have had RA for 10 years and have been on Remicade for 9.5 of those 10

years. My pain was so bad before Remicade I wanted to kill myself. At the time I

started Remicade none of the long term risks/benefits were known but I didn't

see an alternative. I'm 31 years old and if I develop lymphoma tomorrow I will

not regret my decision to take Remicade. I have had a remarkable 9.5 years on

it, which is more than most people.

>     Newly diagnosed people join this group for information and support. It is

unfair to scare them with unproven suggestions about cancer. They are

overwhelmed as it is. Don't take away their hope.The long term research from ACR

shows that biologics do NOT raise our risk of lymphoma.

>

> Take care,

> Steph in Cville, VA

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 2009

Charlottesville Arthritis Walk was Sat. May 2 at UVA's Stadium The Walk

raised about $20,000 for research & programs for people with arthritis!   

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting Things Done

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[Guest guest]

, you're sounding a little bit like Scarlet O'Hara. LOL.

Sue

On May 18, 2009, at 10:06 PM, D. wrote:

> I guess I go with, whatever it takes to get you through today and

> I'll worry about tommorrow later.