I took Accutane in 1992. I already having inflammatory bowel disease and had all the major side affects from the drug. I also came down with leukemia. Could they be connected?
Can Accutane cause leukemia?
Question posted by surfcart on 26 Jan 2011
Last updated on 4 November 2023 by mspade
17 Answers
I took accutane in 2008 and was diagnosed with ALL in July of 2022 at 28 years old.
I took accutane in 2017 and was diagnosed with AML in 2021. I am now 25 years old.
I took Accutane in 2016 for six months and in 2018 was diagnosed with AML. I believe Accutane caused the disease.
I took accutane when I was 16 and 17. I have had circulation problems and fatigue starting at 19. The last two years I have have dizziness when doing most things. Doctors can’t figure it out but I am certain it is related to accutane. My body doesn’t tolerate heat and I don’t sweat normally. I am certain accutane did something to permanently change my sweat glands and effect my heat tolerance. :(
Hi,
OMG!! I just found this website. My daughter took two rounds of Accutane and died of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia PH + chromosome. She underwent two bone marrow transplants at Roswell Park Cancer institute in Buffalo NY. She was diagnosed in2004 and died in 2008. I’m convinced it was Accutane. Who wants to seek a lawyer and sue the maker with a class action lawsuit? She was very healthy athlete who played sports in high school and college.
I do believe there is a link between accutane and blood cancers. We have a family friend who was just diagnosed with a blood cancer and this friend also did accutane. I am willing to look into this more with an attorney. I just don’t know where to start.
My 17 year old daughter was on accutane about two years ago and was diagnosed with ALL leukemia 7 weeks ago and is currently going through treatment. I’m just looking for answers and I am shocked to see that there could be a connection to this drug . Why is this not being investigated more ?
Surely it should be ?
I took accutane twice: once at age 23 then again at age 29. I am now 50 years old and was just diagnosed with multiple myeloma. There is no cancer in my family.
I keep checking this site to see if there’s any new comments. I am certain accutane triggered my leukemia. The medication does mess with blood cells. I am sorry you’re dealing with this. My gut feeling is accutane triggered many of these cases.
How long did you take accutane for?
How long were you other people on accutane? A few months? Year?
I took it for 7.5 months, started 2/13/18 and finished at the end of September 2018. I’m checking with my dr on dosages. This is so weird, I’m sure people think I’m crazy, but I had a terrible gut feeling about this drug and I still did it. I even told a friend the day I started that I hope this doesn’t give me an awful cancer like leukemia.
Now I’m worried. I have very oily skin. Have tried everything and it was just suggested to maybe try a low dose of accutane to see if it will help. But after reading all of this I’m not sure what to do.
My skin also got thinner and very sensitive. This happened after accutane. The day I was diagnosed, the first thing I said to the doctors was accutane did this. To be safe, I wouldn’t do it. We do know my leukemia is not hereditary... Please don’t risk it.
I had the drug twice as a teenager for acne (it never really worked). Was diagnosed with ALL leukemia at 18 in 2000. Only crossed my mind this evening for some reason to look into this and i found this thread! I'm astounded!
I keep commenting in hopes someone will connect with me to discuss this further. There is no doubt in my mind accutane triggered my leukemia. When I was diagnosed, the first thing I said was accutane did this.
I took accutane in 2018. Was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. No previous health issues, no history of cancer in my family, never took meds other than accutane. Every part of me believes accutane triggered this.
I’m wondering about this too. My husband took accutane in high school, has been the healthiest person anyone knows, was in the best shape of his life this year at age 36 and was diagnosed with ALL leukemia and died of a brain bleed within hours of his first dose of chemo. He wasn’t into meds and we married young and have Always been very natural, accutane is the only medication he’d ever taken besides antibiotics. Who knows maybe delayed reaction from a childhood vaccine. We will never know I guess.
I took accurate around 2001/2002 in high school. In 2014 at age 26 I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. I was the “healthiest person everyone knew.” We are still blown away. I am in remission after a long life threatening fight and an emergent stem cell transplant.
I took accutane in 2018 and was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019. Also in need of a stem cell transplant. No doubt in my mind this was caused by accutane. I haven’t put anything else in my body other than spironolactone and accutane. No history of cancer in my family. There’s an issue here and accutane is the problem.
My husband took accutane in high school and was just recently diagnosed with CML. He’s 20 years old. I’ve noticed a lot of people with no history of leukemia have been diagnosed and all they have in common is taking accutane...
My mother took accutane in '93 and was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2004. She died in 2007 at only 56 years old. Unfortunately they do seem to be at least anecdotally connected. Perhaps we should start a class action.
I hope you see this... I too was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia after accutane. Would really like to connect with others in the same boat. Every part of me believes accutane triggered this.
I am 29 and took accutane when I was in my teen years and when I was 23 I was diagnosed with CML (leukemia). I have no family history of any sort of cancer. I have been told by others that there is a link but of course can't prove it. If I could I would be a rich man due to the massive lawsuit I would file.
I took accutane in my early 20's, at the age of 36 I was diagnosed with CML too. There is not a doubt in my mind that the link is there. Massive doses of any vitamin is not safe for anyone. I knew the risks when I took this drug, but leukemia was not one of them. This is the price I am now paying for wanting to be beautiful, and I was, but now it seems it was for just a moment. Vanity can kill you.
I am 35. I took Accutane when I was 16 and when I turned 23, I was diagnosed with CML. I never knew why... no family history no exposure to chemicles,etc. I was looking into Accutane because I had shown a pic of when my face was covered in zits. Come to find out that it may be the cause to alot of the issues im experiencing now. Severe back degeneration, mental issues, and stomach and esophageal problems and now reading this im convinced my leukemia is a result as well. I want to sue these motherf****** now. I pray you are doing well with your CML.
Our son took Accutane in his teens and at the age of 31 he was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. I know of three other young men in our area that have the same scenario. I would like to hear if there are others out there with the same problem.
I am a 38 year old female, recently diagnosed with CML accelerated phase this past May. I also took Accutane twice: first in my late teens and then in my early 20's. My doctor told me he has seen more and more patients in my age group getting this disease. I knew there had to be a commonality between us because this type of cancer is usually found in elderly adults. I am glad I found your postings! I will be doing some further investigating through my Doctor and through the CML forum groups. Stay strong my fellow CML friends!
I took accutane in my late 30 ' s and got CLL at 48. I have no history of cancer in my family. I have wondered if it could be connected.
Hey guys, I really hope some of the posters from a few years ago are still getting notifications from here! Last year aged 21 I was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia called Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, along with chemo idarubicin I was on tretinoin - also known as Accutane. I have had 2 courses of Accutane for severe acne when I was 16 & 18. I've seen the common leukemia here linked to Accutane is CML but I was just wanted to add my experience, I thought it was quite interesting that I was treated with (essentially) Accutane, could my leukemia have been going on for several years without my knowledge as I was treated for acne with Accutane in the years prior? It is known that Accutane as a cancer treatment only achieves temporary remission.
I used accutane in my early 30's and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia when I was 48.
Related topics
accutane, inflammatory bowel disease, leukemia
Further information
- Accutane uses and safety info
- Accutane prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Accutane (detailed)
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