Biologics and Cancer Diagnosis

[skbiggie]

i'm new here. I want to share my experience with biologics and cancer diagnosis. I was told to go off Humira after 15 years on it for RA when I was DX with esoph. cancer. I was miserable for 7 mos before I found studies that said it was safe to resume Humira after cancer diagnosis. I will share these studies with anyone who is interested.

[charisma]

Hi skbiggie

First, thanks for your first post.

It encourages me that someone has endured so long on a biologic drug. I started on Amgevita (adalimunab biosimilar) just over a month ago but have had immediate infections after each of the two.

But it is good to know that you might resume Humira later.

It must have been a shock to be told of oesophageal cancer. Are they confident of getting you clear of it? It seems you must have already been treated as it happened several months ago.

Are you located in the UK?

[skbiggie in reply to charisma]

Hi. No, the U.S. Let me be clear- My esoph. cancer was not caused by Humira. I was treated successfully for the cancer over two years ago. Because biologics lower immune system redponse, oncologists tell cancer patients to stop all biologics for fear they will inhibit the body fighting off a recurrence of the cancer. People are suffering needlessly like I did when I went off Humira and was so debilitated by my RA as a result. Studies I found effectivEly demonstrated no greater chance of recurrance by resuming biologic treatment. I'm just trying to help others out there who are in the same boat I was. Sorry for the infections you got. Hope they are resolved and you can go back on your biologic.

L

[charisma in reply to skbiggie]

Thank you!

I had not assumed the cancer was due to Humira.

Your post interested me as it stated it was safe to resume your biologic. Currently, I do not need the studies but there may indeed be someone who does.

Of course, in different countries there appears to be discrepancy in how Rheumatologists regard various aspects of treating RA.

For me, it will be some weeks yet before resuming biosimilar treatment. Still fighting through. Just part of life on RA meds.

[skbiggie in reply to charisma]

So your docs are convinced your infections are the result of the biologic, correct? Tough position to be in I wish you the best of luck.

[Kerensa21 in reply to skbiggie]

So glad they were able to treat you successfully for what is a truly awful form of cancer. Hardly fair to have that and RA. Thank you for the info, I’m sure it will help others. Hope your RA continues to improve.

[charisma in reply to skbiggie]

Not necessarily, no. Not directly.

It is normal procedure to stop the drug (as with MTX etc) when infection occurs since the drugs lower immune response, making it far more difficult for the body to fight.

This is more so with biologic drugs than DMARDs.

I compare it to a PC with faulty firewall, incompetent antivirus and weak anti malware.

The drug I was prescribed can, in rare cases, cause fatal lymphoma. But I weigh that against the possibilities with ordinary everyday OTC drugs eg Paracetamol here, Tylenol in US.

The drugs prescribed for RA are harsh, hence the need for regular monitoring of kidneys and liver etc.

But we all differ both in severity of disease and in how our bodies tolerate the drugs.

Without any drug treatment, RA will completely destroy bone etc in any joint it attacks, and that might occur within two years of existing without treatment.

I hope a cure might soon be approved.

[tishey]

Hi, I would be interested in reading your studies as I was on Humira for 8yrs and it put my RA into drug induced remission. I was then diagnosed with breast cancer in February of this year and my RA drugs were stopped and I was told I can't have them again. Humira was the only drug that worked for me after years of agony. So far my RA hasn't come back since my surgery but I guess the chemotherapy I have had is keeping it at bay.

[skbiggie in reply to tishey]

I would be glad to send you them. Is there some way I can post the links on this site? If not, I would need your email.

[skbiggie in reply to skbiggie]

Let me try copying and pasting the links here.

[skbiggie in reply to skbiggie]

blog.arthritis.org/rheumato...

rheumatology.org/About-Us/N...

Here they are. The first study, as you will see, was done in the UK. BTW- You're lucky to have gone this long without a relapse of the RA. After 2 months off the Humira, my RA hit me like a ton of bricks. Maybe it is the chemo in your case. Best of luck to you. After showing my oncologist and my Rheumatology docs these studies, they both agreed I could go back on Humira. It is now a year later and no sign of any recurrence of the cancer. All I can advise you is that if you get pushback from your docs, push right back. It's your life and your quality of life. You are going to relapse at some point without the biologic, that's certain.

[tishey in reply to skbiggie]

Thank you so much for the links, makes interesting reading, I will speak to my rheumatologist about this when I next see him. Got to have radiotherapy first now that I have finished chemo.

[Hidden in reply to tishey]

In 2012 I too had Breast Cancer. The chemo nurses told me I had to stop MTX but I still took Leflunomide. After my successful treatment my rheumy said that in her opinion I could have continued the MTX. But when reviewing which drugs I could or could not have in the future, I was told I wouldn't be able to have anti TNFs for at least 5 years after completion of cancer treatment. As I needed to take an aromatase inhibitor such as Anastrazole for 5 years, which I finished using this year, my cancer treatment has only just ended.

[tishey in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thank you for your reply. Yes I can have MTX again when my treatment ends, but not much point as it doesn't work for me. The only drug that worked was Humira, so I am worried that now I have finished chemo RA will come back. I am starting radiotherapy now, and hormone therapy. Its a long journey but we have to stay positive and get on with it. Glad you are doing well now.