Could Your Medication be Increasing Your Risks From Cancer? An Editorial
I have previously written about the long term use of medications such as Nasonex for allergies and the potential effects this may have on a patient with HPV. Nasonex is a corticosteroid and any type of steroid will depress the immune system, something we all know can wreck havoc on a number of different diseases including cancer.
ENBREL is a prescription medicine called a Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blocker that affects your immune system. In addition to ENBREL, HUMIRA has been advertised quite extensively of late. These two medications are indicated for long term use in patients with numerous conditions including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.
This is a direct quote from the Amgen website, the manufacturer of ENBREL. Once again, what is so important to understand about these drugs is the information distributed by their own manufacturers which state:
“Serious infections have been happened in patients having taken ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacterial that have spread throughout the body”
The HUMIRA website states that for children and adults there is an increased risk for lymphoma and other cancers in those taking TNF blockers. They go on to state that HUMIRA may also result in an increase in squamous cell cancer, the exact type of cancer which results from HPV.
To top it off, they state that anyone who has been exposed to or who is known to have hepatitis B (another virus that induces cancer) should be sure to inform your doctor before taking HUMIRA. If Abbott Laboratories, who manufacture HUMIRA are stating this in their own literature I would question why they have not included anyone with HPV among them in addition to hepatitis B.
Obviously one must weigh the benefits against the risks in these types of situations however, it is imperative if you are considering one of these medications, or if your doctor suggests one, that you inform them if you have HPV.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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November 24, 2011 - 8:44amThis Comment