1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

PMR and cancer

Posted , 7 users are following.

D_J
D_J

Long time since I posted but have had PMR for 6 years now and come off pred 3 times only to have gone back on. am now on 5 mgs and feel at 72yrs I can stick on that for life!

I have been diagnosed with grade 3 bladder cancer.

A study was done in Sweden for people with PMR and 69% had developed cancer. a large % I thought.

The normal treatment of Chemo and or BCG after initial tumour removal is not an option for me with PMR because the immune system is shot!

Am not quite bad enough for radiotherapy which would be possible with PMR so we watch and wait and try to get my hemoglobin up which is low.

Am positive and upbeat but just wanted to know if there was anyone out there in the same position with any cancer along side PMR?

DonnaJB

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH D_J

    Posted

    I find the figure of 69% rather difficult to believe - possibly a 69% increase in RISK? That is rather different. Or in the first 6 months after diagnosis - when the likelihood is that the cancer was the underlying cause of the polymyalgic symptoms and they were misdiagnosed.

    However, that figure certainly wouldn't be supported by the results discussed this recent article

    https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-018-1757-y

    and this study

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4173739/

    says in its Introduction

    "Ji et al10 found a 19% increase in the risk of cancer in patients admitted to hospital with PMR and giant cell arteritis (GCA) in Sweden compared with the general population. This association diminished over time to a 6% increase after the first year."

    So I suspect your figure of 69% may be a typo and should be 19% and it is, as I said, for the first 6 months after diagnosis and the symptoms were not purely PMR but due to the undiagnosed cancer.

    I do know a few people with both PMR and cancer of some sort - but most had had PMR for some time before the cancer diagnosis so don't come into that 6 month period, as is the case for you as well.

    We also have to bear in mind that if we are persuaded to take other immunosuppressant medications besides pred it is thought by immunologists to increase the risk of developing various things at a later stage, including some cancers.

    • D_J
      D_J EileenH

      Posted

      Hello Eileen H

      You are as I remember extremely well informed and meticulous with your research. Thank you as I can well believe I read the information incorrectly and jumped to conclusions.

      Do you agree with me about refusing chemo and BCG with 6 years of PMR?

      THese drugs are given routinely for bladder cancer after the initial tumour removal but can create more harm than good with a compromised immune system. If it gets a little worse I can have radiotherapy I have been told and agree with.

      Think I will ask one question at a time and would like to hear from you or anyone else who has been diagnosed and not had treatment.

      Do hope everyone out there can get stabilised on their pred as I have been before this new problem.

      D_J

    • EileenH
      EileenH D_J

      Posted

      I honestly have no idea at all about the chemo/BCG after PMR. It is the oncology and immunology people you need to speak to really,

      I really do wish you well. Been there and done that (second hand, not me) deciding which approach is most appropriate. Did we get it right? Really don't know. OTOH, he is cancer-free - but there are other problems!

    • D_J
      D_J EileenH

      Posted

      OK well what will be will be and I am a great believer in the power of positive thinking and prayer.

      I can cope with anything as can be in control, much better than a diagnosis of Dementia.

      I now believe long term PMR can be contained with low dose pred, (4 to 5 mgs) good diet and exercise without having to try and withdraw to 0. OR at least for the over 70 year olds and the doctors seem to agree.

      What do you think?

    • EileenH
      EileenH D_J

      Posted

      Longterm, PMR IS contained by a low dose of pred but you can't say how much, everyone is different. You may manage on 4-5mg, your neighbour may be fine on 2mg and I need more than 10mg a lot of the time. Good diet always helps but it won't cure and different foods have different effects on different people. Exercise? That is also a variable, some people cannot exercise as much as others - and no-one should ever feel that they are not doing as much as they should, whether in intensity or quantity. Each person must find their own level.

    • D_J
      D_J EileenH

      Posted

      Yes of course you are right everyone must find there own level. I stand to be corrected.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.