Cancer?!

[mRae85]

cancer?!

Aight, so this has been on my mind since the very first time I started looking up information on Crohns and the treatment options. If I missed a thread on this then I am sorry but I haven't seen anything on this so far.

Almost all the "best" treatments out there for Crohns always has a side effect of CANCER listed. Sorry if you have not noticed this, I don't want to scare anyone (is personally very scared but feels like giving up in general) I know there are ALOT of people here on these forums so I am hoping to find that this chance of cancer is so low it is not worth fearing because I for one am so sick of the Pred it isn't funny. In general, I know the Crohns wont kill me over night where as the cancer will if I find myself as one of the people that develope it. Are the pro's enough to outweigh the con's here? I don't want to come out and ask "anyone here have cancer due to thier Crohn's treatment?" but I guess that is almost what I am asking... or does anyone know just what the odd's are of this? Please give me any information and insight that you have to this issue, I have been scared of this for a long time and I finally feel as tho I am in the right place for answers. Thankx everyone!

 

[drew_wymore]

The risk of cancer is very very minimal with the biologic therapies as well as Azathioprine/Imuran. Prednisone, long term has way more side effects to be concerned with then the risk of cancer from any of the approved suppressive therapies currently used in Crohns treatment.

 

[kello82]

also keep in mind that crohns itself can cause cancer.
having prolonged disease and inflammation in a specific area increases its chances of developing into abnormal tissue later. in my opinion, the drugs are worth it to try to suppress the inflammation and disease, in effect lowering the risks caused by prolonged flares.

 

[Guest]

i haven't researched all the possible side effects with treatment for Crohns to realise that the meds carry that particular risk, but i do know about the risk of Crohns ulceration turning cancerous.. i have been warned about that myself by my surgeon which is why he wants to do surgery, and why i want to find a treatment which will calm the ulceration down (and avoid surgery), hence me being on LDN right now.

my take on it is that i think sometimes we need to step back from panicking when it comes to reading side effects.. obviously no-one wants to develop cancer or any other other scary things listed on med info sheets, but almost every medicine, including innocent ones we buy over the counter for ourselves and our children, can cause something. if we have a choice of two treatments, and one has less serious possible side effects than the other, then we can make an informed decision. otherwise, we need to just weigh up how much we are suffering now, how this medicine might help us, and just hope that we are not one of the unlucky ones who develop something from the treatment.

 

[mRae85]

Thanks for all the input, I don't know why it has always been such a worry to me, I don't have anyone in my family tree as far as I know of who has had cancer so I suppose the odds of me being one of the unlucky ones is slim to none as far as I know. I would really like to know more about this side effect, and what you all have said is true, left untreated you can get cancer also so, give or take... now or never eh?

Maybe it has always been tha one side effect to grab my attention the most simply because for 8 years I was looking for a cure or at least a diagnosis and then when I finally get the diagnosis, it is not only uncurable but almost everything has cancer linked to it in one form or another. Guess I am still comming to grips with alot of it and some of it such as treatment side effects might take more time for me to grasp.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Another thing to mention is that in the drug studies, some of the people on the placebos also got cancer. So in some cases it's not for sure related to the drugs. That made me feel much better about going on Humira when I had no other choice at the time.

 

[D Bergy]

The risks are almost statistically insignificant. In another words, Crohn's brings a slightly greater risk of Cancer, the standard treatments might possibly bring a fraction of a percent greater risk.

It is almost impossible to measure accurately unless done with a huge number of people in a double blind study.

If the risk bothers you, it is possible to mitigate the risk with a supplement or two. Turmeric is one thing that will help reduce the risk slightly and maybe put you back to even. There are several others also.

It is one reason I chose LDN as a treatment, but not the main reason. I was more concerned with developing other autoimmune diseases. Far more likely.

Dan

 

[mRae85]

I am seriously pushing for LDN treatment, but after what I saw come out of me today (the dark black stools and alot of mucus) I would seriously take anything.... I am almost to the point of fearing the tapering of the pred will spiral me into the hospitial... dark stools and mucus is always the first sign of something not so good going on

back to the topic though because I am guessing alot of people might want to read this thread one day... I am glad to know and hear from so many of you just how low the risk is, it makes me feel alot better about any future changes on my meds... espically right now! Thankx for all the input, since being diagnosed this "small" side effect has always been a big thing in making everything seem so hopeless. Very glad to know it is not so bad

 

[drew_wymore]

My last GI explained it to me like this. Let's say all things being even, no other risk factors etc.

Your baseline as a person is 1 .. so everyone is at one. Taking something like Humira or Imuran increases that risk by .05 percent. So as Dan said it's insignificant.

 

[Kittee]

Also I'd like you to note that in 99% of the cancer reported from Remicade (at least) it was in male patients in the age 12-17 age bracket.

Thats what my doctor told me anyways.

I too was worried about the cancer because the type of lymphoma is causes, is incurable.

 

[D Bergy]

Here is part of a n article from Dr. Mercola's site on the spice Turmeric and how it appears to prevent Cancer.


Turmeric May be a Potent Cancer Fighter

In India where turmeric is widely used, the prevalence of four common U.S. cancers -- colon, breast, prostate and lung -- is 10 times lower. In fact, prostate cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, is rare in India and this is attributed, in part, to turmeric.

Numerous studies have looked into this potential cancer-fighting link, with promising results. For instance, curcumin has been found to:

• Inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells
• Inhibit the transformation of cells from normal to tumor
• Help your body destroy mutated cancer cells so they cannot spread throughout your body
• Decrease inflammation
• Enhance liver function
• Inhibit the synthesis of a protein thought to be instrumental in tumor formation
• Prevent the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth

And according to researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, curcumin blocks a key biological pathway needed for development of melanoma and other cancers.

The spice actually stops laboratory strains of melanoma from proliferating and pushes the cancer cells to commit suicide by shutting down nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), a powerful protein known to induce an abnormal inflammatory response that leads to an assortment of disorders such as arthritis and cancer.

More Reasons to Add More Spice to Your Life

The reason people in India refer to turmeric as “holy powder” is because it has such a broad range of health effects. In fact, curcumin has been shown to influence more than 700 genes, with benefits that include:

• Strengthening and improving your digestion
• Supporting healthy liver function and detoxification
• Purifying your blood
• Fighting cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease
• Anti-inflammatory properties

Further, evidence suggests turmeric may play a beneficial role in the following diseases:

• Cystic fibrosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• Crohn’s disease
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Cataracts
• Gallstones
• Muscle regeneration
• Inflammatory bowel disease

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...Makes-Membranes-Behave-for-Better-Health.aspx


Dan

 

[Leafy2]

I dont mean to point this out but Delta-9 my good buddy here is an anticarcinogen..... so looks like ill have the last laugh!... too bad its illegal!

Except if you live in California, Israel, Europe, or the UK.

there its on prescription.


Tumric has those properties..... if so why has there been no oil extractions and or isolations of the chemical compounds.

be wary of fads, remember colloidal silver! JEBUS CWIST!.... the blue man!.... oh dear and herbalife..... the Australian government tested a few of their things and classified them as NFHC (not for human consumption)

just to put the cherrry on top, goji berries... yes they are yummy, but you may as well go eat some apricots.

same faeces different bucket.

 

[spingirl]

The type of cancer Imuran gives you is incurable? Did I read that correctly? No treatment - nothing? What is the progression of it? Fast and dead or slow moving and chemo...? I really wish I had not read that post...now I am freaked out again...I know the odds are slim but...incurable? Maybe that is why my doctor avoids my questions. He just says "have faith". Or "don't put the cart before the horse". That is not what i want to hear. OK - so its more prevelant in males? So does that mean my risk is more like .02? My D is very low right now too...how long do they say it takes to develop? I have so many questions.