Patients repeatedly express their concern that anti-rheumatic drugs could promote the development of breast cancer. In an autoimmune inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the immune system attacks the body’s own structures. This can be prevented by taking immunosuppressive drugs, which inhibit parts of the body’s own immune defense. The potential disadvantage: weakening the body’s immune system might make it less prone to fight emergent cancers. Earlier studies therefore reported an increased risk of some cancer types in rheumatic diseases. [Read more…]
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