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New here, question about RA, methotrexate and cancer

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 3/17/2011 10:59 AM (GMT -5)
I was recently diagnoses with RA. While waiting for the blood work results to come in, the dr prescribed prednisone ..that helped for about the first two weeks and then the pain returned to what it was before the prednisone.

Saw the dr yesterday and he put me on methotrexate and I will slowly get off the pred.

When I got home I researched methotrexate and could not believe the side effects!!!!

What scares me the most the statement that taking methotrexate may cause cancer.

I have been fighting cancer my whole life. I had osteogenic sarcoma way back in 1967, that metasticized three times my lungs and then 15 yrs ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I am REALLY scared to take methotrexate but do not want to risk another cancer diagnosis...and yet, without meds, I can hot take this pain I am in.

Does anyone have any advice? Thank you
Posted 3/17/2011 12:07 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome and I can certainly understand your fears!

Does your doctor know your cancer history? If you didn't think to bring it up because you didn't think it would come in to play I would make a phone call right away and voice your concerns. Make sure you feel comfortable with his answers. It would not hurt to ask opinions of your GP, who ever treated your cancer and another RD.  It could be the risks of cancer while using MTX are very minimal despite your circumstances and the benefits will out weigh the risks- but there is no sense fooling around guessing about it.

I wish you all the best,

Posted 3/17/2011 1:31 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you so much for your response. I actually have a dr appt today...with a family doctor. The RA doc does know my health history...but when he gave me the prescription for methotrexate. I knew nothing about the drug...came home and did a google and wow! So, I will ask my doc today...but I just wanted to see if anyone else had some ideas as I've found talking to others who share similar diagnosis can be very helpful.

Thanks for the welcome....not really a club I wanted to join, especially after all I've been through with the cancer...but I am grateful there are others like yourself who are willing to share their experiences.

Thank you
Posted 3/17/2011 6:52 PM (GMT -5)
I'm not medical but isn't methotrexate a chemotherapy med to fight cancer?
I know its a chemo med because I was warned to e very careful with it around the kids and wash my hands after handling it etc. We also have more chance of developing cancer with RA so my GP said any increased risk of cancer is usually cancelled out by quality of life decisions.
Talk to your doctor, they put it all so sensibly. They are all horrible meds, I'm sure we'd all prefer not to be on them but the benefits they bring to me are worth the risk.
Go talk to your doc, golitho
Posted 3/17/2011 10:34 PM (GMT -5)
God bless you! I can understand your anxiety. It has always been my
understanding that MTX is an anti cancer drug. When used in that function it's prescribed in large doses. Has ur doc. mentioned trying a strong NSAID, like Mobic ?
Posted 3/18/2011 9:43 AM (GMT -5)
MTX is a chemo AKA anti cancer drug but one of the side affects is cancer. Doesn't that beat all?
Some RA meds have side effects listed as causes joint pain....
Drugs are very strange.
I think the thing to keep in mind is that MTX has been around for 25+ years and when you research it you really don't find any info saying it caused any of the bad side effects it lists as precautions.
All I ever see is naseua, mouth sores, slight hair loss, etc.
Posted 3/18/2011 3:26 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome to the forum. So sorry that we have to meet under these circumstances. cry
I too just started taking methotrexate and was very scared. I started it last Saturday night and came here looking for advice on how to get through the depression. It is scary!! You are so right but as many here have told you it is an anti cancer drug. We as suffers of RA, according to my Rhuemy(I asked a thousand questions because I had read about it) already have an increased chance of getting some form of cancer. It comes down to quality of life. I have to say I like you, experienced great results from the predisone, at first. Then I was started on plaquenil and it helped for a little while, now this. I need quality of life, we all do. So it's what we have to do. I would definetly talk to your Rhuemy about your fears concerning this. There are other meds he could try first like plaquenil and sulfar. The sulfar didn't do anything for me but we are all different so it's a hit and miss. I wish you lots of luck along your journey. hang in there. Heather :-)
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