my husband has undergone 4 cycles of Gem /Carbo and has nearly completed 20 Radiotherapy treatments of 55 grays,prior to this he was being treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis and was taking Methatrexate and the anti malaria drug Col?.On his diagnosis of pneumonia and lung cancer,,this medication was stopped,I presume that the chemotherapy kept the R/A at bay,but it is now 6weeks since it finished and the R/A is kicking in again and causing pain and problems,,,He has been taking naproxen but it's not really helping.We actually see our onc next week ,but we are wondering what is likely to happen.I am sure there must be many other people with a similar problem,and would be very grateful for any advice or help.Also many thanks to Dr West the Moderator and certain Spring for answering my other question,I am not sure what happened but Imwas unable to get back into the question to thank you....
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Cancer - 1249429
tls11251
![]()
Posts:4
Forums
Reply # - October 24, 2012, 03:38 PM
Reply To: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Cancer
tis, I'm sorry your husband is having arthritis pain again. It has been noted that chemo can help with the pain from R/A. This is a quote from Dr. Weiss, "I hope that I can offer a happy element to this thread. I've had two patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had dramatic improvements in their symptoms with chemo. One had head/neck cancer and was getting methotrexate, a drug used to treated rheumatoid arthritis. For him, quality of life with cancer was ironically better than what he had before cancer, because the methotrexate allowed him to move around again. He didn't want to stop when the cancer progressed on the drug! The second case was less dramatic, but this patient also got a lot of RA relief with chemo." http://cancergrace.org/forums/index.php?topic=6948.15
Whether your husband would need to resume his RA meds would depend on whether or not he will resume a chemo regimen. Since he had favorable RA control in his previous chemo treatment it is reasonable to hope for the same if he needs a next treatment. However from your explanation of his treatment it sounds like he has had a curable stage and is hopefully cured. In that case he may need to resume his RA treatment.
All this is stated by a non medical person so let's see what an expert has to say.
I will contact a doctor for input and you should hear back within the day.
I hope for the best for you and your husband, please keep us posted,
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - October 24, 2012, 07:01 PM
Reply To: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Cancer
Dear tls--
Like Dr. Weiss, I have treated a number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune conditions (like psoriasis). When the immune system function is reduced from chemotherapy, then the autoimmune problems tend to reduce significantly. I have a number of patients who really like that aspect about chemotherapy. The trouble is, when it is time for chemotherapy to stop and the immune system "bounces back", the autoimmune condition can also bounce back.
I have a patient in a similar situation at this point, for whom I am working with his rheumatologist to evaluate restarting his RA treatment.
I don't think I can really say what might happen in your husband's situation. Part of that will likely depend upon the next steps in treatment of his cancer, as Janine has mentioned above. Each treatment for RA has pros and cons, and those will need to be weighed in terms of his individual situation.
I guess what I can offer is to have you know that he is not alone with this symptom pattern, and there are things that can help. Keeping an open communication with his doctor about his symptoms (not only lung cancer-related, but also relating to his RA) is very important.
I hope that he is feeling better soon.