Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Biologic DMARDS DO NOT appear to raise cancer risk

bcatz
bcatz
Dated September 11, 2012

http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/biologics-and-cancer-rate210.php

". A meta-analysis of 63 randomized controlled trials found that biologics taken on their own, or in combination with methotrexate, pose little increased risk of cancer, at least in the short term.

The largest meta-analysis to date on the much-debated subject, it adds to a growing body of evidence that biologics do not appear to significantly increase cancer risk. The findings were published in the Sept. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA."
bcatz
bcatz
** just to be clear, the study was for 1 year...so short term use looks good. Long term use (5-7yrs) still needs studies as noted in the article. It's still very good news and reassuring.

It'd be really neat to come up with a biologic that you take for 3-6mos then are off for 3-6 mo with effectiveness against RA holding on for the months one is off...but would allow the body to rebuild immune fighting power...the reason it doesn't work is your body adapts to the biologic, thus making it ineffective faster.
Bistro
Bistro
Still, this is really encouraging.

Thank you!!!
Bistro
Bistro
Still, this is really encouraging.

Thank you!!!
Bistro
Bistro
Still, this is really encouraging.

Thank you!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was just diagnosed with macrocystosis from biologics after being on them for 8 years. Not quite cancer, but on the road. Still, I would take the years of little pain and dying younger.

So I guess 8 years is long term, right?
bcatz
bcatz
IDK. I'm sorry to hear that and I hope treatment fixes you up. Were you aneimic often?

My aunt has been on biologics since enbrel was released, or close to that (1999), but she's not been on the same one the entire time. Each has worked for her between 3-6 yrs.

It's weird to think how long these drugs have been around, yet how short of a time span that is.
Dreamchaser-Linda
Dreamchaser-Linda
Sounds good if you go into remission first year. But in reality, isn't that only 5% or less? Even if you feel better, your suppose to stay on the bio.

Lin
deleted_user
deleted_user
I forgot to mention that I have also been mostly on mthx for 12 years. No anemia at all. Just large blood cells, which won't divide caused by the biologics.

I have had iron, B12 and folic acid checked and all is normal. But the blood cells are not normal. That means I will have to go off, in case of cancer being the next step. I don't feel bad. I took a chance with the cancer risk, and came up with a winning hand. And I have had great luck with being in remission from drugs. 99% for 8 years, until the drugs started wrecking different organs. Sigh.