MXT and basal cell carcinoma

[PaulaE]

Good evening everyone.

Has anyone had a new challenge one development of basal cell carcinoma whilst taking MXT? This is happening to my mother at the moment with lesions developing on her scalp. We are waiting for biopsy results at the moment. I was wondering if Mum will need to stop her MXT in view of this? Thank you.

[Downtime]

Hi Paula,

I’ve had lots of skin cancers, basal cell , squamous and others but not melanoma. I had most of them before Mxt and I’ve had a couple since. None recently on my scalp, though I do have sun damage there. I’ve never stopped it and now I take a biologic as well. I had a big discussion with the rheumatologist about it, before starting, but I decided that the benefits of the biologic hopefully would outweigh the skin problems and I would just go with it! He was fine about it.

Talked to the dermatologist too who advised me to take vitamin b3 ( nicotinamide) daily, as an Aussie trial found that it prevented a lot of these cancers. I’ve been doing this for 6 months.

Hope your Mum’s biopsies turn out to be something easily treatable without surgery. It’s such a nuisance and I really feel for her. Xx

[PaulaE in reply to Downtime]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. Like many of us I’m sure, I’ve been trying to research and of course, one reads such awful things including scalp SCCs having poor prognosis. Wishing you well with all your challenges too.