Domino Effect?
 

I started Rebif a little over 5 weeks ago. I am on the 2nd week of the 44mcg injections now. About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I noticed a little scab near my right elbow. A week and a half ago my son noticed a scaly bump and told me to have it checked out. It was tender and irritating.

I went to my dermatologist today and she removed that concerning bump and another itchy scaly spot on my left forearm. She said she is pretty positive that the one near my right elbow will come back as a skin cancer and will need a little more work.

I found it kind of astounding that it happened so fast. I found a little research concerning Rebif and skin cancer, now I am even more concerned...Next week, I am going to drop by my neurologist's office once I hear back from the pathology from today.

Any one else have any experience?

I have to say I have not tried the rebif, honestly, reading about the side-effects of most of the MS medications has me not even wanting to try them... copaxone seemed to have the least so I decided to at least try it, but since being on it while mostly things seem stable (a few issues but can't really say if meds are helping or waste of my time) but I've had issues with severe skin sensitivity, much more heightened sensitivity to sunlight, just what I need being as pale as I am, I mean so much so that I need to put sunblock on to go out and check the mail or I'm a lobster by the time I get back inside, and an increase in migraines.

As far as a link between starting your infusion and the possible skin cancer popping up that soon afterwards. It's really difficult to say if the rebif was the cause or if it just helped along what was already there. Skin cancer can grow at an incredible rate, one of the things that makes it so dangerous, and many cancers already present in the body can grow more quickly when "fed", a carcinogen, especially anything that increase the growth rate of cells. So it's possible it simply sped up the inevitable, or that it was a strange coincidence, really hard to say.

But my fingers are crossed to the point of nearly breaking for you in the hopes that it is not skin cancer, and that if it is, that it was caught in time :hug:

Unfortunately, the biopsy from the right arm came back as squamous cell carcinoma and the one from the left arm is pre cancer. The good news is that I can have it treated on June 27th by MOHS procedure, it is time consuming but the easiest and when I leave the center the cancer will be gone. Two weeks later when I have the stitches removed, the pre cancer site will be frozen. Then, I will get them to relook at a few more sites.

Hi bddouglas,

Best wishes on the up coming removal on both areas :hug:

I had squamous cell skin cancer removed from my scalp quite some years ago.

Thanks, Snoopy. I am not concerned about the removal of the skin cancer lesion. I am concerned about how quickly a slow growing cancer grew. Hopefully, it grew out and not in...

I finally received permission from my neuro to stop the Rebif. I began breaking out in hives and patches of my skin began to blister and peel. On top of it all, my daughter-in-law shared her summer cold germs with me...:rolleyes:

I am not going to my granddaughter's softball tournament tomorrow...it's a day of gargling warm saltwater and rest. I hope everyone has a great weekend.:hug:

Bddouglas, I am sorry to read about your squamous cell carcinoma.

Almost always they grow "out but not in".

I have had a couple removed with no subsequent problems. They were probably an effect of sun exposure here and as a matter of routine I check myself for anything which looks dubious.

Squamous cell carcinoma is a known side effect of Rebif treatment but it does not seem to be very common Is SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA a side effect of REBIF ? ( FactMed.com ).

I understand your concern :hug:

Mine just showed up and grew quite quickly. The Dermatologist removed what was on my scalp, sent it to be biopsied and called me with the results: squamous cell carcinoma. I needed to go back in to have more removed and when they did it was believed he got it all. This was confirmed by the second biopsy. I have never had a return of skin cancer. The worst part for me was knowing my hair would not, and has not, grown back in the surgical area (it's a vanity thing).

It will be okay Bddouglas :hug:

Thank you both! I am a bit frustrated, I guess. If I go back to Tecfidera, being JCV+, I am running risk of PML...as you can see that would be my luck...lol I have until August before I have to make that decision, my next neuro appt.

I have a friend that has been harassing me to try Plexus products just for overall health (of course she sells it). I am thinking about a 7 day trial at this point. I figure, what can it hurt, at least it is all natural supplements...lol

My summer head cold has quickly gone to my chest. Thankfully, I have Ventolin inhalers on hand so I can breathe. I see an urgent care visit in my near future if it continues its course...When it rains it pours....lol #ThatIsMyLuck