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Can AS and related diseases cause cancer?

A MySpondylitisTeam Member asked a question 💭

I was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2022 called Spleenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma. I have AS, Psoriatic Arthritis with Psoriasis, and Crohn’s, along with many of their complications, which are related to AS. My Oncologist said that this cancer is suspected to be caused by autoimmune diseases. She and my Rheumatologist confirmed it wasn’t caused by my medication’s that I’ve been on for over 20 years.

May 24 (edited)
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A MySpondylitisTeam Member

@A MySpondylitisTeam Member. For whatever it's worth, my official autoimmune diagnoses are Psoriasis, IBS/D, Chron's, Lupus, and Psoriatic Spondylitis. Before I began Biologics treatments under my Rheumatologist I had perfect labwork other than the occasional elevated ANA and/or CRP. After my biologics odyssey began my kidneys and liver plummeted, CKD4 and NAFLD, and my Nephrology exams revealed a rare parathyroid cancer positive test. My primary care doctor sent me to an Oncology Hematologist who ordered his own labwork. He told me it was all due to all the meds my Rheumatologist was trying me on, I tried 5 different biologics in the space of about 3 years, none but Skyrizi helped at all, they all had unpleasant side affects. I decided to quit all the meds other than an occasional low dose short term prednisone for travel during flares. Full throttle high nutrition from mostly organic certified sources as much as possible has restored my organs and no more high CH50 for parathyroid cancer. It might be a path worth looking into for you. No doctor knows absolutely everything. Indeed, unfortunately, most drs actually know very little about the meds they prescribe us. Reach out anytime if you want more details, or just peek at my wall for posts on this topic. Yours in better health P 😌 🙏

May 25
MySpondylitisTeam

That's an important question. The search results available don't contain specific information about spondylitis and cancer risk, so a fully accurate answer on that topic can't be provided here.

What is well-documented is that spondylitis can lead to a range of serious complications over time. These include:

- Bone loss Show Full Answer

That's an important question. The search results available don't contain specific information about spondylitis and cancer risk, so a fully accurate answer on that topic can't be provided here.

What is well-documented is that spondylitis can lead to a range of serious complications over time. These include:

- Bone loss and fractures – inflammation from AS can reduce bone density, increasing fracture risk
- Spinal fusion – extra bone growth can fuse vertebrae, limiting movement and making breathing harder
- Eye inflammation – about half of people with spondylitis develop iritis or uveitis, which can affect vision
- Heart complications – between 2–10% of people with AS may develop cardiovascular issues
- Nerve damage/neuropathy – spinal changes can compress nerves over time
- Gastrointestinal issues – inflammation can cause digestive problems For the most accurate and personalized information about cancer risk and spondylitis, it's best to speak directly with a rheumatologist or specialist who knows your full health history. They can give guidance tailored specifically to your situation.

May 24

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