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PUVA treatment and methotrexate- is there an increased risk of cancer?

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stuartandco
stuartandco

On the professional reference page for PUVA treatment, it says that Psoriasis may be more effectively treated with combination therapy: PUVA, UVB and methotrexate.

I was under the impression that methotrexate had to be stopped prior to PUVA treatment because of the significant increase in the risk of developing skin cancer.

Can someone please clarify this for me?

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Emis_Moderator
    Emis_Moderator

    Posted

    Hi stuartandco,

    I will pass your comment on to our clinical editor and post back here with her reply.

    Regards,

    Alan

    Emis Moderator

  • david12607
    david12607 stuartandco

    Posted

    i am under the impression after speaking to my GP who is also a dermatologist that in 70% of patients with psoriasis complete remission is possible. Perhaps you will not require the UVB treatment in combination. This is just my understanding of my GPs insight, i am not clinically trained so just relaying my view. If you have started MTX could you let me know how you have found this drug?
    • freckles55
      freckles55 david12607

      Posted

      Hi, I had very severe psoriasis and started MTX 18 years ago. At first it took some

      weeks to have an effect but then it started to clear and I have only had a tiny patch

      ever since. The only down side is that I felt nauseous for 24 hours after taking the

      tablets, and had to rest up sometimes. Two years ago I started taking it by injection

      and that has made a massive difference. As long as I take folic acid three times a

      week I am fine. It has felt like a miracle cure for me!

      I don't drink alcohol at all and have regular checks, but have had no negative long

      term effects.

      Hope this helps

    • david12607
      david12607 freckles55

      Posted

      Thank you for this insight, i appreciate that everyone can have different experiences and on review, yours is definately one that i hope for. The aim with any condition is that you just want your life back with minimum fuss. A pill once a week and a monthly or weekly blood test do sound like a good way forward. So would you say that for 18years you have been in remission? Are their any other precautions you have to take when on this medicine i.e. flu shots etc due to weakened immune system?

      Kind regards

       

    • freckles55
      freckles55 david12607

      Posted

      I would definitely say that I am in remission, and I realize that not everyone will enjoy the same success. I know some others who have tried it and the side effects of nausea and generally feeling unwell with it was worse than my experience.

      As to other precautions I have had a flu jab each year, not that my dermatologist recommended it, I just thought it wise. Other than that I am just aware that if I get a chest infection I make sure its treated quickly, but this has been a rare occurrence and never anything serious. The dose I take is only 15 mg and is quite small.

      It is great to live a normal life after years of messy ointments and people staring!

    • david12607
      david12607 freckles55

      Posted

      With psoriasis their is also an assocaited risk of developing PA, dependent on UK or US sources the numbers range from 10-40% of people with psoriasis will developing some form of PA. In some way, do you also feel that by taking MTX this also alleviates this concern? As PA is a condition that needs early diagnosis and intervention and MTX is also successful at achieveing remission in the majority of people.
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