Remicade, Embrel, etc. poss Cancer risk for the young

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saluki
saluki Member Posts: 2,287
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
Remicade, Embrel, etc. poss Cancer risk for the young
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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited June 2008

    FDA MedWatch- Remicade, Enbrel, Humira and Cimzia- FDA Investigating Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockers And Cancer Risk In Children And Young Adults

    FDA issued an Early Communication About an Ongoing Safety Review to inform healthcare professionals that the Agency is investigating a possible association between the use of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blockers and the development of lymphoma and other cancers in children and young adults. FDA is investigating approximately 30 reports of cancer in children and young adults. These reports were submitted to FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System over a ten-year interval, beginning in 1998 through April 29, 2008. These reports describe cancer occurring in children and young adults who began taking TNF blockers (along with other immuno-suppressive medicines such as methotrexate, azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine), when they were ages 18 or less, to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Crohn's disease or other diseases. Approximately half of the cancers were lymphomas, including both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Long-term studies are necessary to provide definitive answers about whether TNF blockers increase the occurrence of cancers in children because cancers may take a long time to develop and may not be detected in short-term studies. Until the evaluation is completed, healthcare providers, parents, and caregivers should be aware of the possible risk of lymphoma and other cancers in children and young adults when deciding how to best treat these patients.

    Read the entire 2008 MedWatch Safety Summary, including a link to the FDA's Early Communication About n Ongoing Safety Review of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TFF) Blockers regarding this issue at:

    http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#TNF

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  • carolsd
    carolsd Member Posts: 358
    edited June 2008

    I read your post, thanks.

    I have had Remicade and am currently taking Humira. I know there is a risk of cancer from these medications, because I've seen warnings before. It scares me, truly. I did not take them before age 18, so I hope that's a little bit of protection. The thing is, if I *don't* take them, I'm disabled. My arthritis flares out of control and I can barely function. It's a horrible dilemma.

    Anyway, I appreciate you posting this.

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  • pip57
    pip57 Member Posts: 12,401
    edited June 2008

    Just before I was diagnosed with bc, I was entered in a study for enbrel. Somehow they lost my name and it was several months before they called me. I told them that I could no longer take part because of my diagnosis. Reading the above post makes me think, " timing is everything." I did take methotrexate as a young adult and had a child that died of cancer. Mmmmmm. Makes me wonder.

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  • saluki
    saluki Member Posts: 2,287
    edited June 2008

    I'm so sorry PIP--So devastating.  My sister also lost a child to Ocular Melanoma.  Horrible for a mother to be so helpless to protect their child.

    I posted this knowing that for many there is no choice regarding these meds.  But some Docs are also using these meds for Psoriasis in children--Don't know if there is an alternative medication but at least mothers should know that there is a possible risk. 

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  • gracejon
    gracejon Member Posts: 972
    edited June 2008

    Rheumatologist recommended Enbrel and gave me time to digest information.  At follow up appointment we discussed this for several reasons.  Although lymphoma is the big risk and with RA ones risk of getting lymphoma is already higher, the benefit outweighs the risk.  On the other hand for me, I have had 2 different cancer diagnosis and am in the process of wider excisions for areas that are considered potentially cancer.  So recommendation changed to another drug that I was given information but have not reviewed.  Again risk versus benefit should be taken into consideration.  I have heard the comment from people taking these meds that "I wished I would have done this earlier"

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