Re: TNF-a cancer link

[Guest guest]

Matt, I realize and understand your concern. As you know, I hesitated, for

many years, before going on to the harsher drugs....for much of the same reasons

as you are suggesting. These drugs (Remicade/Enbrel) have only been on the

market...to the general population...for the last few years. Yet, Remicade (the

first of the TNF-a drugs) was tested way before all the others....I believe it

was approved by the FDA in 1995. So these type drugs have been tested for at

least 8 years. However, you are right, they could have some long term side

effects that we won't know about for years to come. In the mean time, the

damage

from the disease is causing some of us greater distress than others. Knowing

that there might be a small chance for this concern, and other risk factors in

taking these drugs, I was willing to take the risk. Methotrexate, and several

other immune-suppressants, also have a very low risk factor for lymphoma, but

have been used for the last 20+ years for arthritis and have given many

relief from their disease activity. Time will help us all understand the long

term

side effects. There are now three TNF-a drugs (and more in the making) that

are helping thousands of people deal with their disease. It there was a great

increase in the more severe side effects, we would have some indication by now,

and other drug companies would not be rushing to get their name brands out.

At least, this is my outlook on it. I feel that everyone needs to know about

the concerns and it might not yet be a drug that everyone should be on,

especially for early (or less severe) disease activity, people who have had

cancer or

heart disease. I believe that is why they suggest that you try NSAID and other

remedies first. I went into this knowing I'd be a guinea pig for myself and

others. It is exciting to see so many people who are having success with these

drugs. I pray, that it will only continue to be good news. Many insurance

companies and Medicare are accepting the drugs. I hope that the cost will

greatly

decrease so all can afford these type drugs when they are needed.

Have meant to tell you to have a great vacation. Should be wonderful this

time of year. Bask in the wonderful sun for us all. :-) Best regards, Connie

(granny)

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie, if I was using Enbrel and getting good results from it, I agree, I

would be a fool to go off it. But I live in a different world than most

people. I don't fight off infections well and I have watched four of my

immediate

family who share my gene pool die of cancer. So my decision is a personal

one. If you have been taking Remicade, Enbrel and Humira with no problem of

infections and are aware if you do have a bad infection, you have to go see the

Doctor asap, then there is absolutely nothing that works better than the

biologics. Obviously many people have been taking Enbrel for some time and have

shaken off colds and flu quite easily. There is good news for this population

of

people, the side-effects of the biologics have been shown to be actually

lower than many other drugs. The reason is that the biologics combine two or

more naturally occuring protein sequence molecules that are already found in

your

body. Matt

[Guest guest]

I have also read several ppl who said that after going on TNFs they were

better about getting rid of infections and not having as many as in the

past, so there are lots of things that we don't know about these things yet.

A few years ago when Enbrel first had it's first success with RISG

illnesses, I was sure that it was my miracle drug. You can't imagine how

hard I worked looking for a doc to prescribe it for me--even to writing to a

doc in CA and planning to go there from GA if he would treat me. But he and

all of the others I talked to about it didn't want to treat me because I had

already had lung cancer. At the point I was looking I really didn't care if

I had a few good years and then got cancver again cause I was so miserable I

could do absolutely nothing anyway. I could barely get to the docs and

pharmacy and home again. It was during the time that a few internet sores

were delivering groceries for nothing. Though the prices were higher, that's

what I did for a while so I didn't ahve to struggle to the 7/11.

Every now and then I think about going after the drug again when I am having

great difficulty getting what I take right now. For now I really don't have

time to pursue it.

/MI