Does prednisone or imuran affect cancer?

    
      Re: Does prednisone or imuran affect cancer?
    


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Posted by CCF MD GS on March 16, 1998 at 13:56:38:

In Reply to: Does prednisone or imuran affect cancer? posted by Joanne on March 03, 1998 at 09:17:46:

: I am presently taking prednisone and imuran for MG.  I am decreasing the prednisone
  to eventually be off of it.  I heard a comment that prednisone can bring on
  cancer.  Is this correct?  How about Imuran?
  Thank you for your input.
  Joanne
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Thanks for the question Joanne. This is a very difficult question to answer. The main link with steroids or imuran has been with central nervous system lymphoma. This diease is more prevalent in immunosupressed patients. We treat many of you MG patients with both of these medications and I have never seen a patients show up with cancer but it is possible. Prednisone probably works by decreasing the immune system itself and imuran by also being mutagenic. Does that mean do not take the medication? You need to speak to your doctor about that. The development of cancer would be very rare and you have to way the odds of cost versus benefit but for most patients the benefit outways the potential cost.
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatemtn options of your specific medical condition.