I have had RA for ten years and am currently taking prednisone, methotrexate, plaquenil and humira. I was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Does anyone else who takes these meds have or have had melanoma? Did you stop any of the drugs if so?
Yes, i believe we have similar situations. I have had ra for 21 years, i am 58 now. I have been on plaquinel, etodolac and sulfaszine for perhaps 5 or more years now. I have held off from mtx because i do like to have a drink once in a while, i always figured it is in my back pocket if needed. I was on Enbrel which i LOVED for a couple of years and then came down with 2 melanomas within 2 years, no history before that. I was taken off the Enbrel and skin has been good since, which has been, best of luck about 2 years now. I keep wrestling with getting back on Enbrel because of the quality of life difference is amazing, so i am doing a lot of studying. I am reading a bit that mtx seems to be tied in with cancers, but i cannot blame it on the mtx of course, i believe it was from Enbrel. I'm not sure if this is of help, i hope so,best of luck
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Hi Dana
I am wondering if you are asking if any of the medications had anything to do with your melanoma or are you asking whether the medications you are taking will interfere with your treatment?
What plans have been made to treat your melanoma? Will you be having surgery to remove it? I would strongly suggest that you ask your doctor or dermatologist about your current medications.
In researching your question I did find this from The Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center:
"A recent study published in the Journal of the Americian Medical Association (JAMA) did report a slightly higher incidence of skin cancers in patients taking Remicade and Humira (Enbrel patients were not analyzed in the study)."
Again...the best people to discuss this with are your doctors. I really hope you get some answers.
Thank you for posting here.