Re: questions, and more questions..........

[Guest guest]

Marge,

I would not worry about the possibility of cancer with regard to

Xolair. I researched this earlier this year and posted this

information:

From the Xolair web site:

WARNINGS

Malignancy

Malignant neoplasms were observed in 20 of 4127 (0.5%) Xolair-

treated patients compared with 5 of 2236 (0.2%) control patients in

clinical studies of asthma and other allergic disorders. The

observed malignancies in Xolair-treated patients were a variety of

types, with breast, non-melanoma skin, prostate, melanoma, and

parotid occurring more than once, and five other types occurring

once each. The majority of patients were observed for less than 1

year. The impact of longer exposure to Xolair or use in patients at

higher risk for malignancy (e.g., elderly, current smokers) is not

known.

My own comments:

According to the CDC, the rate of cancer among the population of the

U.S. as reported in 2000 is 463.6 per 100,000, or 0.46%.

Therefore, the rate among the test subjects (actually 0.48% rounded

to 0.5%) is not statistically significant relative to the population

as a whole. It was only significant related to the control group,

which, in fact, was statistically significantly lower than the

overall population.

Because there is a difference in the cancer rates between the two

groups, they have to report the difference.

However, there is no evidence to suggest that Xolair patients are

more likely to develop cancer than the population as a whole.

I am not a physician, but I do understand statistics and statistical

methodology. I read another article that indicated the study group

was content to dismiss this concern because since the study took

place for a period of less than one year, there was not enough time

for the test subjects to develop cancer during the study. In other

words, they already had it but were not diagnosed prior to the study.

Greg

> In a message dated 7/5/2004 1:27:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> coachmac@w... writes:

> My doc thinks that I may still be generating new IgE, which would

> account for the increase in symptoms. That means I may have to

take

> Xolair indefinitely. That is fine with me.

> >>>

> Do you ever worry about the potential long term side effects from

Xolair? The

> idea of developing cancer because of it scares me, and my doctor

did tell me

> up front about the possibility...........if the shots don't help

me in a few

> months, I will not risk it.

> According to the literature I read, we can still have IgE

antibodies in our

> system up to a year after starting Xolair therapy. Do we

immediately begin

> producing the antibodies once the shots are stopped?

> I receive 300 mg (150 mg in each arm) dose per month........why do

some of

> you get the shots every two weeks?

> Thanks.

> Marge

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Marge,

Even if Greg's information wasn't right on point (and it is; I've

read several published journal articles on Xolair and

the " perceived " cancer risk is much greater than the " real " risk), I

would have chosen to take Xolair anyway.

Everyone has to make their own risk/benefit analysis when taking any

medication, particularly a new drug on the market, especially one

that has such a narrow target population. The truth is, I felt I

was more at risk of getting any serious illness last year, because

my immune system was in such terrible condition. Besides the varied

risks posed by long-term exposure to prednisone, I had maxxed out on

antibiotic use except for those antibiotics that are specifically

for antibiotic-resistant cases. Meaning that soon there might be no

antibiotics left for me. On top of all this, I was miserable daily;

had barely enough strength to make it to work every day, much less

see my friends or clean my house or do weight-bearing exercise to

fight off osteoporosis.

As for who gets what dose how often, dosage is usually determined by

IgE level and weight. I think you mentioned your IgE level is 131

or so. Mine was near 800 at the last test. It could also be

possible that because of your history in reacting to meds, your

doctor thought it would be best to start you on a monthly basis,

rather than every two weeks, but you would have to ask him.

Addy