Cancer cells and immunosuppressants.

[Georgie-girl]

As many of you know, I've had a couple of biopsies since a routine mammogram picked up some calcium deposits. Thankfully, I've just been told it was normal. All is well.

It did get me wondering though. I know sjogrens puts you at greater risk of lymphoma so was wondering if there might possibly be any connection between increased cancer risks and the taking of immune suppressants.

I know they use immune suppressants to treat cancer but technically speaking, if your immune system is suppressed there's less chance surely of fighting off or attacking any deviant cells or early changes?

What do you think? Does that make sense or am I totally wrong in my thinking?

Would value any opinions. X

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Georgie-girl ,

There is a section of The Lupus Encyclopedia by Donald E Thomas Jr, which discusses this subject;

"A large number of the medications that are used in treating lupus and that suppress the immune system carry warnings about their possibly causing cancer. This is primarily done from a theoretical standpoint in many cases. The immune system is very important in policing our bodies to get rid of any cancerous cells that form throughout our lives, so it makes sense that if a medication suppresses the immune system, that there could be an increased risk for developing cancer. So far, the TNF inhibitors have been studied the most regarding this question. Although there have been a few controversial results, overall, there appears to be no significant risk for developing cancer from these medications according to the latest studies."

[Georgie-girl in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thank yoy paul for that very useful and helpful reply. It was something that I started thinking about after my recent experience.

However, how is it that immune suppressants are used to treat cancer? They cause it then treat it. Bizarre.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Georgie-girl]

The doses of these medications tend to be significantly higher when treating cancer, so I believe they have a more wide-spread effect on cells, rather than just the immune system.

[leslieliesel in reply to Paul_Howard]

well, that's good......

[EOLHPC]

😍 glad you’ve got the All Clear GG 👍👍👍👍

GREAT post & discussion: thanks! This fits with my understanding of the situation.

Due to my previous long term malignancy & inutero DES exposure, my consultants say that my immunosuppression & systemic comorbidities place me at higher risk of multisystem cancers than if i’d never had cancer. As a result, my GPs and all my regular hospital clinics are being especially vigilant. Which is fine with me...eg i get annual colposcopies from gyn onc. But certain hospital clinics are stubbornly casual, eg dermatology: despite my ultra pale reactive skin + immediate family history of skin cancer 🤷🏼‍♀️

😘🍀😘🍀😘

[Georgie-girl]

Thank you coco for your reply and I'm so pleased most of your clinics are on the ball and taking good care of you. Such a shame about the derma clinic though. You'd think with your history they would be excessively cautious. It's bad that there's such a vast variation in patient care between clinics. Glad you're on top of things though. X

[leslieliesel]

So glad you do not have bc!!....I wonder the very same thing about some of the drugs that are used for Lupus etc....

[bluebell99]

My oncologist told me we produce abnormal cells on a regular basis. Usually our own immune system seeks them out and destroys them. When our immune system is weak then the abnormal cells can turn cancerous.

I was taking azathioprine for many years, it really suited me but obviously suppressed my immune system to such an extent that I developed kidney cancer. The azathioprine did not cause the cancer but it had to be stopped because I needed my own immune system to start working to help me fight it.

My mother took methotrexate for RA for over 15 years before developing MRSA and C Difficile on an admission to hospital for breathing problems. Again, her immune system was not strong enough to fight these awful bugs and she sadly passed away.

Immune suppressants definitely have their place but patients need to be monitored better. My own personal view is perhaps it is the length of time you take them which weakens the body to not be able fight the bugs or cancers.

Different people have differing attitudes to medication, it is impossible to find something which fits all. Like a lot of things in life, you have to weigh up your options.

I was happy to take azathioprine because it successfully reduced my symptoms and increased my quality of life.

I am lucky that I have been several years in remission, I might have a different view if my cancer was terminal.

[Georgie-girl]

Wow. I am so glad you're in remission bluebell. What uou went through sounds awful but you're right. It is entirely dependant on how you personally feel about these drugs. Some people are happy to take them and as you say, for a better quality of life with less symptoms. Others would probably rather keep the symptoms if they're not too unbearable. Like you said, individual preference and attitude to the drugs.

It's such a shame that with every thing we go through we have the added worry of drug induced illnesses from the very drugs that make us better.

Glad you're well.

[Buffy14]

I had to have a biopsy after a mammogram , the results were fine and the doctor told me this was common in lupus patients .

[Georgie-girl]

Really buffy? I did wonder this but the breast clinic didn't seem to think so. They said it's common but not necessarily due to autoimmunity. It would seem this is something else that we know more about than certain doctors.