Crohns patient on Remicade newly diagnoised with breast cancer

I'm very sorry to hear that. Hang in there though, you survived Crohn's, you'll survive this…

My wife was on Humira for rheumatoid arthritis. Humira is similar to Remicade. She was diagnosed with fairly advanced thyroid cancer last year. She stopped the Humira right away, and had surgery to remove all of her thyroid and a lot of lymph nodes a few weeks later. She did pretty well, overall. In fact, she just had her one year check up and the markers for thyroid cancer were "undetectable". They say she'll have to stay off Humira for another few years.

I was on Remicade for quite a while, and have been on Humira for about 3 years now. My GI and I talked about the cancer risks. His feeling was that there was a slight risk of cancer from Remicade, and even Humira, but he felt that due to these drugs and the underlying medical conditions, the patients were getting better care overall, and this higher level of care and medical attention lead to earlier detection of cancers that may or may not have been related to the medications.

I understand you being scared and depressed. My wife and I went through that. It's completely normal. I'd suggest finding some support for you and your own well being during this time.

Hang in there TinTin.

Hi! MmcKenna and Ides,

Sorry to hear what you and your family went through.  Thanks for responding to  my post.  This is by far the most info I got regarding my condition despite frantic research the past few days.  I also wonder whether Lumpectomy + radiation or Mastectomy will be easier to recover from?  I just want to make the right decision that would not come back to haunt me, if possible. 

Thanks again.

I wish you the best with what you're going through!

I was on Remicade for approximately 6 months when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Once the cancer was found I immediately went off it.

No doctors could give me a straight answer as to whether the Remicade had caused the cancer. It was either the Remicade caused it, it was already there, the Remicade helped it along, or of course the Remicade had nothing to do with it. There's not enough research to definitively say.

So you're not alone! It is not common and not heard of often but it does happen. Ultimately, despite the cancer risks I ended up on the biologics again, both Humira and Remicade, separately, because the Crohn's was unbearable. I had to make the decision between quality of life and the risk of cancer again.

Good luck and stay strong!

I have crohns and breast cancer(DCIS). I was on remicade in the past, now just on Imuran, I have been ob Imuran for 13 years. Anyhow, I had a lumpectomy/ lymph node biopsy, and the a re excision, and did fine. I wouldnt worry too much about infection, better to take care of the cancer as soon as possible. Good luck.

I hope things went well with your Cancer treatment and surgery. I have no idea regarding the Psoriasis. Is there something you can treat the flare up with?

What are your treatment plans now for your GI issues?

Hi! Everyone,

Thanks for writing me. Sorry that I don't seem to get reply notifications anymore from Healingwell forum.

My skin biopsy came back as psoriasis. The doc gave me prescription ointment for the first lesion that I got since early Oct and told me to put antibiotic cream on the second lesion that biopsy was performed on.

Unfortunately, when I met with my GI doctor last month, she said that there really was not anything that I could take at the moment for my GI. Right now my guts are doing o.k. Maybe when I see her again, I will mention Imuran (thank you, Cowgirl Peg for sharing your experience).

Now I have to decide on if I should be on Tamoxifen. My surgeon said it could help prevent breast cancer recurrence. The oncologist veto it because 1. I am estrogen receptor negative. 2. I am Crohn's patient. 3. Crohn's patients have 3 times higher risks of getting blood clots while on these drugs.

I can kick myself if I can prevent BC from recurring and not do it. However, I should probably listen to the oncologist...

Just a note on my breast cancer treatment - I did not do very well after lumpectomy. I lost a lot of weight even though it was a relatively small surgery. My radiation therapy went well and the doctor was excellent (same goes for the therapists). It was a real comfort for me considering what I was going through.

I am slowly but gradually gaining some weight back. Thanks again to all of you who have written me and shared your experience. Really appreciate your help and kindness.

Tintin, I'm so sorry you are going through this! The psoriasis has happened to me as well, after being on Humira for 4+ years I developed psoriasis out of the blue. I was on Remicade for a few years before this. The dermatologists gave me steroid creams, ointments and RX oil for my scalp but nothing worked. They suggested we talk to my GI dr about discontinuing my Humira. I'm the first to say I hate taking Humira but when faced with quality of life vs injecting myself with a drug that could down the line potentially cause other issues I choose today. It's really the only choice for me since a Crohn's flare stops my life in it's tracks and I'm out of commission for months.

I know it's scary (and super annoyingly itchy and unsightly to have the psoriasis) because to me it shows that if I can get this then I can get other, worse things, but again - I have to just choose today.

One thing that helped me a bit with the psoriasis (it's spreading all over my body now) are baths with epsom salts & baking soda (helps soothe the skin while letting your body absorb magnesium) and then rinse off in the shower and use organic coconut oil as moisturizer. Much better than the chemical crap that was useless anyway.

Good luck! I know it's no fun. I'm sending you healing thoughts and prayers xo

Post Edited (wednesday77) : 1/24/2015 2:59:19 PM (GMT-7)

Hi! Kazbern and Wednesday 77,

Thanks for writing me. Wednesday77, really sorry that the psoriasis is bothering you so much and it seems to be spreading. Mine happened 5 months after I stopped Remicade due to cancer treatment (I was on it for 5 years). The first one started last October on my left leg and a new one started in December (?) or so on my right leg. It sure was frustrating dealing with a new set of questions while I was just finishing radiation treatment.

The second dermatologist that I saw prescribed me Triamcinolone Acctonide. My sore on the left leg seems to be improving a lot. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be healed even though I have read that the problem comes back after you stop applying medication. I have only antibiotic on the right leg since it is still healing from the biopsy. This whole thing is quite depressing. I was wishing that I could get a break from the cancer treatment. Well, the dermatologist while worrying about new patches popping up at other areas of my body, she thinks that if my body "balanced itself out", I may have a chance of getting "cured". I hope that she is right and that my immunity will somehow balance itself out since I am not taking any medications for Crohn's.

I hope that maybe taking a break from Humira will calm down the psoriasis situation and you can resume afterwards? I think these biologic drugs can do a lot of good for our bodies but sometimes they really have very surprisingly side effects.

Thanks for sharing your experience and tips on skin care. Also the healing thoughts and prayers. Same goes to you. Our lives really are not easy but I am truly thankful to you and many others who have taken the time and share your thoughts and experience.