Skin Cancer, Azathioprine and Colchicine

[CrochetGiraffe]

Hi All

I rather recently had my official DX of BD and they have recommended a reverse taper of Azathioprine starting low and increasing dramatically to dampen symptoms alongside Colchicine to aid with muscular issues. All that sounded well aside from the obvious immunosuppressant questions I had as a newbie. However I threw a bit of a spanner in the works when I informed them I am currently under investigation for skin cancer meaning I am currently ineligible for Azathioprine until dermatology gives me the all clear or the bad news (whichever becomes apparent).

My question is has anyone had skin cancer and been offered an alternative to azathioprine or is it just a case of riding the storm? Also has anyone had any successes with the autoimmune protocol diet, it was recommended to me a while back by the CoE but it seem like a radical choice.

[Sherlock11]

I was already on azathioprine when I was diagnosed. This had to be changed to mycophenolate mofetil after I was diagnosed with a scc on my finger. When I attended the CoE at Aintree and was diagnosed with Behcet's Prof Moots prescribed Rituximab initially and then when Covid struck swapped it to Stelara. I was told this was less of a risk of cancers than infliximab which is what he would have normally given me. In my case I have had many scc's but its a combination of many reasons, and I went 2 years with none but they have started again. There are other medications they can give which are less of a risk but you and your Dr must weigh up the pro's and con's. I don't regret anything I have taken as it's always been with the best of intentions.