Who has developed some kind of cancer while on Xeljanz?

Hello, I'm sorry you lost your mother. How long was she on Xeljanz? Can I ask what her age was and if she was a smoker?

She was on the medicine for around 22 months when she contacted me on Oct 20 ,2017 at around 2:00 am explaining to me she was coughing up blood... she was doing great until this ... and she was 72 when she passed and yes she was a smoker not even a Pack a day ... my question to any doctor was if this had this kind of out come why would you give it to anyone ... after a lot of reading and talking with family’s who have went through kinda the same they have been asking the same questions...

All these biological meds for rheumatoid arthritis suppress the immune system, which allows cancers to grow, and also cause other conditions which promote cancer. Methotrexate, humira, all of them do the same. So it's unfortunate, but since its impossible to live with untreated rheumatoid arthritis, its simply the luck of the draw, so to speak, whether you get cancer or not. No one taking meds for RA likes to think about this, but it's a fact. I';m now at the point where the RA is affecting my heart and lungs, so I have no choice. You have to be your own advocate, the drs are just gonna push the latest drugs only the patient can say yes or no to them after some research on what the possible side effects are. it's a no win situation unfortunately.

That is correct but she had undergone all the test X-rays all that could be done and she had no sign of anything abnormal in her lungs liver heart or any part of her that showed any form of cancer cells or cancer ... went through test every three mths to check blood and everything and then one night all that happened ... she had be diganosed with RA in late 2016 went on Xeljanz and then she passed in June with cancer caused by this drug ... all I’m saying to anyone is if you can find a drug with less harsh side affects then I would never use this drug ... but as you said if it gets really bad then We do have to make a choice

Yes. Wow, she didn't have RA very long. As I mentioned I got it as a young woman, and now have had it 40 years. If you have any kind of illness "waiting" would say any kind of immune suppressant will speed it up. Sorryfor your loss my friend. Since I originally wrote this, I had to get off Xeljanz, as it caused my liver numbers to spike up. On another med now, probably just as bad. LOL

So sorry for your loss, Michelle. This has to be so devastating losing your Mom. Have you talked to her doctor about the lung cancer and Xeljanz? Did he know she smoked some?
I've had RA for 39 years and was first on Remicade, but too many side effects. I tried Humira, Enbrel and now Xeljanz. I've been on it four years and know the risks out there, but have not found anything else that works.

mikmagkat, I wanted to mention, I had 17 years on just minocycline, a mild antibiotic. It took away all RA symptoms. A true miracle drug. Check into that if you've never tried it. You will have to beg your rheumy to try it, as they still don't believe it works, although FDA did trials in 1996 proving it does. I got RA the day after having an abcessed tooth pulled--leading me to always believe in the possible infectious theory of RA-in other words, RA caused by a bacterial infection by mycoplasma. I got sick with pericarditis and got off it, but still believe I may be able to use it again, it's fantastic. No real side effects either.

Hi rodreb, very interesting. Thank you for that information on minocycline. I have heard of it and may have even been prescribed it in the past. I will definitely ask my rheumatologist about this drug next appointment. I like that it has no side effects.

Go to The Road Back Foundation online to read all about it. The Docs don't have much incentive to prescribe it, if you know what I mean. It's very old, very cheap and no one is pushing it. LOL Good luck.