Golimumab and cancer

derek5mcc

Hi Everyone - I am new to this forum and this is my first post.

My wife has just been prescribed Golimumab for treatment for her Rhumatoid Arthritus. She was fine with this until the consultant told her that it may cause a slight increase risk of cancer. Athough she did point out that there was no definite link between cancer and this drug it has still scared my wife and now she is not sure whether or not to go ahead with it. I have researched it a bit on the internet and feel that it there is not a strong enough risk to prevent her from taking the drug. I have also suggested that she speak to her doctor and maybe he can reassure her.
Has anyone else had any experience of Golimumab and do you think there is any significant increase of risk in getting cancer?

dreamdaisy

Hello Derek, it's lovely to meet you although I am sorry you have had to find us on your wife's behalf. I am on my third anti-TNF treatment and all have carried a risk of cancer but my thinking was - and still is - that as one is so carefully monitored when on these meds the remote possibility of cancer could be picked up and at least they can cure that. Does a 'cure' exist for RA? No. I also reflect on the fact that I could trundle out of the house tomorrow on my rollator and get run over - the chances are I won't but who knows? Life itself is risky and these meds add another level of risk but the monitoring is there for a reason.

The right anti-TNF treatment can make a tremendous difference to the quality of life, and yes, it does come down to weighing up the risk versus the benefits but I have always said 'Let's go for it, you never know, things might be better.' I wish you, and your wife, well. DD

lindalegs

Hi Derek

First of all welcome to posting.

I haven't heard of this drug but many of the Dmards (Disease Modifying Drugs)or Biological medicines used to treat arthritis carry this risk. I've just started Etanercept weekly injections and the side effects can be pretty startling but you have to remember it is a small risk.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease which does affect the whole body not just the joints so the drugs given do help to keep the whole disease at bay and limits the damage it does to the bits we can't see.

I don't say the above to alarm just to try to help with some of my experience.

The medication can help us to lead a more or less normal life with less pain, stiffness and fatigue.

Whatever drugs she is given she will be monitored with regular blood tests.

If you or she need to talk to someone please phone the Helplines - number at the top of the page.

Hope this helps.

Luv,

derek5mcc

Thank you both for your help and advice. We will take it on board when deciding whether or not to proceed with the treatment. My wife's Doctor is on holiday now until the end of January, so she likes the idea of the helpline on the website, which I think she will use.

janie68

Hello Derek

For me, I had to weigh up risk v benefit. Will the biologics help me to get my life back in some way or do I not take the medication and potentially get worse,Housebound and lead a miserable and painful life with little relief. What you eat, drink, smoke, whatever, increases the small risk of cancer, eating processed meat last week was found to increase some type ofcancer as well.

It is a personal decision, good luck

Janie

frogmorton

Hi Derek

Just a quick but big welcome to the forums from me and to your wife too.

l hope she does ring the helplines - l have done and hey were fabulous.

If you can do a 'search' on here (box op right) here is a thread by firemanphil l think who has has fabulous results on goli. Might help her to read it??

Love

Toni xxx

woodbon

Hi, Glad you found the forum. These things can be scarey. I had to have HRT patches as I had an operation when I was 30, which was 25 years ago! When all the fuss about cancer, heart problems and what not came I decided that I'd take the risk as I feel awful with out them.

I think your wife and you need to talk to a doctor or some trained medical person about the risks and they can explain everything to you. I'm sure they will help put both of your minds at rest. Love Suexxx

tillytop

Hello Derek and welcome.

I do understand the concern here and I think you are doing absolutely the right thing by finding out all you can about the drug and by asking questions.

Starting a new drug can be scary, I know, but as someone with RA of many years, I have always felt that I prefer to feel as well as I can in the here and now, rather than denying myself that opportunity on the basis of something which may never happen. I am on my third "biologic" drug, the first of which gave me 5 virtually completely RA free years and, even if that were to lead to other serious health problems at some point in the future, I would not have missed out on those 5 years for anything.

I hope that, if you wife decides to go with the Golimumab, it helps her.

Tillyxxx

Firemanphil_39

I've been on golimumab now for 4 months... And I have got my life back!
I am cycling on average 100 miles weekly... Fully operational firefighting and collecting my children from school etc etc... I could n't do that before and it would have got worse over time.

I am prepared to take the risk.. I fully agree with dreamdaisy... They all have an element of risk.

I hope your wife gets sorted... Golly has worked wonders for me!

Firemanphil_39

Oops.. Correction.. Meant to write ' I fully agree with tillytop'