Home | About NaturalNews | Contact Us | Write for NaturalNews | Media Info | Advertise with Natural News
arthritis

Arthritis Drugs Linked to Skin Cancer Risk

Thursday, December 27, 2007 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer




Share
(NaturalNews) "TNF blocker" drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis increase a patient's risk of contracting skin cancer, according to a new study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

Researchers compiled data from twice-yearly questionnaires filled out by 13,001 rheumatoid arthritis patients between 1998 and 2005, and found that those taking TNF blockers had a slightly higher risk of contracting skin cancer than patients not taking the medications.

Because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the body is attacked by its own immune system, TNF blocker drugs disrupt a critical immune pathway. As a result, the drugs are believed to expose patients to an increased risk of serious infections.

The exact nature of the link to cancer is still being investigated. The current study was the third to find an increased cancer risk associated with the use of TNF blockers.

"Three major clinical trials, in their malignancy data, all have some indication there is a problem with skin cancer with these drugs," said Mayo Clinic rheumatologist Tim Bongartz, who was not involved in the study. "This has huge implications in how we examine [and advise] these patients."

Three kinds of TNF blockers have been approved for use in the United States. Of these, most of the participants in the new study were taking Remicade, with most of the rest taking Enbrel and very few taking Humira.

Lead researcher Frederick Wolfe, the director of the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases, said that even with the increased cancer risk, there is no need for patients who need the medication to stop taking it.

"It is a small overall risk and I don't think people should be concerned," he said.

Bongartz agreed, saying that even the increased risk of infection only means that doctors need to monitor patients who are taking TNF blockers more carefully.

Get breaking health news + a LIFETIME 7% discount on everything at the NaturalNews Store
Join two million monthly readers. Email privacy 100% protected. Unsubscribe at any time.

Articles Related to This Article:

Natural Remedies for Treating Arthritis

Revealed: which fruit and vegetable juices alleviate arthritis pain without drugs or surgery

Miracle Cure for Gout and Arthritis Pain? Six Cherries a Day

Most People With Arthritis Don’t Get Enough Exercise (press release)

Exercise accelerates recovery from arthritis surgery

The Powerful Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Preventing Diseases of Inflammation: The Experts Speak

Related video from NaturalNews.TV


Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here.
Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)

Have comments on this article? Post them here:

 people have commented on this article.

Related Articles:

Natural Remedies for Treating Arthritis

Revealed: which fruit and vegetable juices alleviate arthritis pain without drugs or surgery

Miracle Cure for Gout and Arthritis Pain? Six Cherries a Day

Most People With Arthritis Don’t Get Enough Exercise (press release)

Exercise accelerates recovery from arthritis surgery

The Powerful Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Preventing Diseases of Inflammation: The Experts Speak

Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com

Email this article to a friend

Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us

Permalink to this article:

Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.

Embed article link: (copy HTML code below):
Most Popular
Today | Week | Month | Year

See all Top Headlines...


GET YOUR FREE GIFT + SHOW DETAILS.


Now Available from NaturalNews.TV

Across the Web

More News...

Also on NaturalNews:

Health Ranger Videos
Activist music
CounterThink Cartoons
Food documentaries
FREE Special Reports
Podcasts
Advertise with NaturalNews...

Support NaturalNews Sponsors:
Advertise with NaturalNews...

Most Popular Stories

Collecting rainwater now illegal in many states as Big Government claims ownership over our water Share
FDA finally admits chicken meat contains cancer-causing arsenic (but keep eating it, yo!) Share
Senate Bill S 510 Food Safety Modernization Act vote imminent: Would outlaw gardening and saving seeds Share
Anti-foaming agent found in Chicken McNuggets Share
Court rules organic farmers can sue conventional, GMO farmers whose pesticides 'trespass' and contaminate their fields Share
R.I.P. Bill of Rights 1789 - 2011 Share
Why McDonald's Happy Meal hamburgers won't decompose - the real story behind the story Share
Federal agents raid Mormon food storage facility, demand list of customers storing emergency food Share
H1N1 vaccine linked to 700 percent increase in miscarriages Share
14 signs that the collapse of our modern world has already begun Share
Artificial Sweetener Disease; a new breed of sickness Share
Forensic evidence emerges that European e.coli superbug was bioengineered to produce human fatalities Share
The NaturalNews Store

Huge discounts on supplements, raw foods, botanicals and healthly personal care products. Save up to 50%! Click here to see the current sale items

Health Ranger Storable Organics

GMO-free, chemical-free foods and superfoods for long-term storage and preparedness. Bulk pricing! Shipping immediately. See selection at www.StorableOrganics.com

25 Amazing Facts About Food

This FREE downloadable report unveils a collection of astonishing and little-known facts about the food we eat very day. Click here to read it now...

 

Resveratrol and its Effects on Human Health and Longevity - Myth or Miracle.

Unlock the secrets of cellular health with the "miracle" nutrient Resveratrol Click here to read it now...

 

Nutrition Can Save America

FREE online report shows how we can save America through a nutrition health care revolution. "Eating healthy is patriotic!" Click here to read it now...

The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Michael Holick reveals fascinating facts on how vitamin D is created and used in the human body to ward off chronic diseases like cancer, osteoporosis, mental disorders and more. Click here to read it now...

Vaccines: Get the Full Story

The International Medical Council on Vaccination has released, exclusively through NaturalNews.com, a groundbreaking document containing the signatures of physicians, brain surgeons and professors, all of which have signed on to a document stating that vaccines pose a significant risk of harm to the health of children. Click here to read it now...



This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2011 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.