Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are diseases in which one’s immune system targets one’s own tissues mistaking it for invaders. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the “rheumatoid factor” – an antibody, present in our blood starts to attack tissues, cartilages and multiple organs. This condition is chronic and can cause serious inflammation of bones and joints. Progressively this condition has the ability to cause joint destruction and completely dysfunctional bones and organs. Rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone even children, however, majorly people above the age of 40 years and below the age of 60 years indicate high contraction rates. Studies have also revealed inter-linkage of rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. Certain types of cancers may be developed either due the medication that is administered to cure rheumatoid arthritis or solely due to the inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis itself.
The major kinds of cancers that may affect rheumatoid arthritis patients more severely than their unaffected counterparts are enlisted below:
1. Lung cancer
People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are at a high risk of contracting lung cancer primarily if they are smokers. However, even non-smoking rheumatoid arthritis patients have risk of lung cancer but the percentage of smokers getting affected with lung cancer is considerably on the higher side. Thus it is highly advisable to quit smoking. Medications such as methotrexate or leflunomide must be avoided since they severely affect the damaged lungs.
2. Skin cancer
Melanoma, a critical skin cancer may be induced in rheumatoid arthritis patients who are on tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. TNF inhibitors are drugs that suppress the immune system, but they adversely affect the body and hence lead to skin cancers. However, although the chances of contracting melanoma may be high other kinds of less severe skin cancers may equally affect patients who are not even on TNF drugs. Studies have revealed that people taking TNF inhibitors have a 45% greater chance of developing non-melanoma cancer.
3. Myeloma
People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for a long time may develop a condition called hyperglobulinemia which is characterized by high production of a protein related antibody in the blood that in turn breeds elevated plasma cell production in the body. Myeloma is the abnormally high concentration of plasma cells in the blood, however, studies also indicate multiple myeloma may induce rheumatoid arthritis in some people too, thus both these conditions are inter-related to some extent.
4. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease
Two serious varieties of cancers that affect lymphatic systems, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease, may be linked to people suffering from prolonged cases of rheumatoid arthritis. The reason is attributed to the fact that chronic stimulation of immune system may directly lead to lymphoma. Statistics substantiate a high risk of these lymphatic cancers in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
5. Lymphoma linked to TNF inhibitors
A more fatal kind of lymphatic cancer called hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma is also linked to people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, especially the ones on the TNF inhibitor Humira. Thus great amount of care should be taken while prescribing this immunosuppressant to children and young adults.
6. Leukemia
Research has revealed a high instance of leukemia in patients suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, however, the two have not been definitely linked. It is noted that patients who are on therapies like Cytoxan and Azasan which are immunosuppressants to cure rheumatoid arthritis also contract leukemia thus indirectly linking the two illnesses.
7. Breast and colorectal cancer in women
A positive news for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is that breast and colorectal cancers are inversely related to rheumatoid arthritis. Studies indicate people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have lower instances of breast and colorectal cancers that their unaffected counterparts. Primarily, it is attributed to the fact that patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are on anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen that also slice the risk of contracting breast and rectal cancers.
8. Prostate cancer in men
Another condition where rheumatoid arthritis patients are at an advantage is relatively low mortality rate in males due to prostate cancer. Studies and data reveal men suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have much reduced risk of contracting prostate cancer than their unaffected counterparts.
The above studies do reveal direct, indirect or inverse relation of various kinds of cancers with rheumatoid arthritis, however, the overall percentage of contracting cancers may be very low. Thus one should not get perturbed and try to maintain a disciplined lifestyle. Rest, education, precaution, exercise and good knowledge of symptoms and prompt appointment with ones physician is mandatory to curb the high risk of cancers emanating from rheumatoid arthritis.
