Anti-TNF treatment in Crohn's Won't Boost Cancer Risk

A recently published study shows that anti-TNF treatment does not increase one's risk of cancer. Smoking and disease duration in CD patients does have an increased risk for cancer. This study was published in American Journal of Gastroenterology and summarized in Medpage.
www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/ColonCancer/43733

Thanks for sharing. It is definitely positive news and I hope future studies continue to show that this risk is non-existent. These drugs are relatively new. The article notes that the previous published studies showed no additional cancer risk at average patient follow-up periods of 1.9 years and again at 5.2 years. This study appears to have expanded to an average follow-up of 7.6 years.

I'm gonna post this on the UC board if you don't mind, because not a week goes by there where somebody doesn't say they are terrified of taking biologics because of the cancer risk.

Thanks for posting the link Ides,

I remember when Remicade first came out, it had an FDA black box warning, and was considered one of the top ten most dangerous drugs.

I guess more time to study the effects have proven quite valuable.

Judy2 - you said EXACTLY what I would say. I was just thinking the other day that if I were to get cancer because of the meds I would accept the trade off because biologics have allowed me to live my life, have 3 beautiful kids, and who knows where I would be if I hadn't taken them. I've been on one type of biologic or another since 1999. This is great news! Thanks for posting Ides!