Chemotherapy and auto-immune conditions

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pruec
pruec Member Posts: 1 ✭
in Newly diagnosed
Hi, I’m hoping this forum will generate some information and experience about the effects of chemotherapy on someone living with an auto-immune condition. I’m 67 and have had alopecia for many years. 

Following my breast cancer diagnosis in January, I’ve had a mastectomy and am now considering treatment.  The recommended regime includes 5 months of chemo. 

My oncologist says there is no research on chemotherapy and auto-immune conditions. And I haven’t been able to find anything in the clinical literature. 

I am very anxious about the chemo anyway and even more so because of my particular immune system issues. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone on the forum with experience or knowledge about this. 

Comments

  • AllyJay
    AllyJay Member Posts: 945 ✭
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    Hi there @pruec...I'm sorry to see you've joined our club, but welcome. I don't have alopecia, but when I went through chemo, I did have three autoimmune conditions. I have scleroderma, which causes connective tissue, mainly collagen, to thicken. This has affected my skin, kidneys, lungs, joints, blood vessels and blah blah blah. I also have Sjogren's and antiphospholipid antigen syndrome which causes my blood to clot with multiple DVTs and pulmonary embolisms. That was back in 2016-2017. I've since also acquired dermatomyositis, psoriasis and vitiligo...just for fun. When going through chemo and surgery, my blood thinners were changed from warfarin to clexane injections and I stayed on my daily prednisolone, which I'd been on for years and still am. Whilst having chemo, my skin improved remarkably and became a lot less stiff and the calcinosis deposits on my fingers went away. I had other side effects, but not directly linked to my other autoimmune conditions. My team of specialists all worked together each step of the way, and 7+ years, I'm still here and NED (no evidence of disease) for the cancer. Unfortunately when chemo stopped, my skin returned to what is was before and year by year, gets worse. Perhaps liase with a rheumatologist, as they specialise in autoimmune conditions. Good luck with your treatment.
  • Blossom1961
    Blossom1961 Member Posts: 2,377 ✭
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    @pruec I got lichen schlerosis  which may or may not have been chemo induced. Dr doesn't know but did say that chemo can cause auto immune diseases. I have no idea what happens if you already have an auto immune disease. As @AllyJay says, perhaps consult a rheumatologist. Your Onco may not be the best person to consult on this as they like to downplay side effects. All the best 

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