Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful and often serious condition that affects an estimated 1.5 million adults in the United States, according to 2007 statistics gathered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. What a lot of individuals may not know, however, is that RA is also considered an autoimmune disease. This is good news if you have the condition and are also concerned about cancer. Why? Because contrary to what conventional doctors may tell you, both Rheumatoid Arthritis and cancer are chronic conditions. As such they can respond extremely well to dietary changes, lifestyle tweaks, and natural healing modalities which work with the body’s natural repair and healing mechanisms.
Who Gets Rheumatoid Arthritis?
In recent years, RA has started to become one of the “big names” when it comes to debilitating diseases. It is now the third most common form of arthritis, shortly behind osteoarthritis and gout.
Women are more likely to be afflicted by Rheumatoid Arthritis than men and age does play a factor, at least according to statistics. Most women begin to feel the effects of RA at a median age of 45 while men tend to get it later in life.
The real cause, however, is not age, gender, nor genes. It’s epigenetic − meaning it is mostly caused by factors in a person’s environment − the same factors that can lead to any one of the hundreds of other known autoimmune conditions. Toxic exposure, bad dietary choices, emotional wounding, chronic stress, and poor intestinal health (especially the condition known as “leaky gut”) are all contributors to heightened inflammatory responses. They can be responsible for the skewed cellular messages that lead to autoimmune disease.
The Rheumatoid Arthritis-Cancer Connection
Scientific inquiry makes no mistake about the verified connection between a history of autoimmune disease and cancer in general. Further, a connection has been made between RA and cancer in particular as well. A joint Danish-American study found that there is a clear and consistent link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and lung cancer. A Swedish study of over 76,000 RA patients found a 2 to 3 times higher risk of both non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s disease in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Studies have also found that people with RA may have a higher rate of myeloma (a rare form of cancer that affects the white blood cells).
Perhaps the biggest cancer risk for those with RA, however, are the medications that are typically prescribed to treat it. Some pharmaceuticals in question include: NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), DMARDs (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) meds, and corticosteroid injections. The more typical names for these drugs are Prednisone (Deltasone), Enbrel, Humira, and Methotrexate (Trexall and Rasuvo).
Here are just a few studies that have found a connection between RA medications and cancer:
- A 2013 study found that individuals with RA who take TNF inhibitors, which suppress the immune system, have double the risk of developing melanoma. Other studies have shown that RA sufferers who take TNF inhibitors may also be at greater risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer as well;
- TNF inhibitor use may also lead to lymphoma. In 2011, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration reported 40 cases of lymphoma in patients taking Humira (and other TNF inhibitors). Most of these patients were suffering from other autoimmune conditions, such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. However, Humira is a common drug prescribed to RA sufferers as well.
- Some studies have begun to establish the possible link between leukemia and the immunosuppressive drugs Cytoxan and Azasan (azathioprine), as well as Methotrexate. A 2017 joint U.S. study published in the journal JAMA Oncology found that azathioprine exposure given to autoimmune condition sufferers in general led to a 7-fold increase in risk of myeloid neoplasm, a form of leukemia.
What You Can Do: 3 Easy-to-Do, Natural Protocols for RA
Remember that all autoimmune conditions are reversible by working WITH the body. Your immune system DOES have the ability to “right itself” and heal when given the right circumstances and environments to do so.
If you have RA and are also concerned about cancer prevention, then the best thing you can do is to work with your doctor to avoid conventional pharmaceuticals which may contribute to your risk of cancer. In addition to following an anti-inflammatory diet, equipped with lots of veggies which are naturally anti-inflammatory, here are three easy protocols to consider for reducing pain and even HEALING yourself of RA:
#1 – Strengthen Your Gut: There is increasing evidence that the underlying cause of many major disease conditions lies in the poor balance of good and bad gut flora within a person’s “intestinal microbiome.” A weak digestive system can significantly affect your immune responses. It can also lead to “leaky gut,” which many say is the very precursor to autoimmune conditions in general and may be a major contributor to cancer.
You can begin to boost your gut health by taking a quality probiotic every day, as well as making sure you feed your gut fermented foods like raw sauerkraut. Probiotics flood your system with “good” bacteria” while prebiotics feed those good bacteria so that they grow. In addition, other gut supplements such as Pancreatic Enzyme and Betaine HCL can help a sensitive stomach fully digest fats and protein. These supplements can also help with the healthy break down of food.
#2 – Gentle Mindfulness Movements: Mild forms of exercise such as light swimming, tai chi, qi gong, yin yoga, and light walking can get your circulation going and help you maintain or even lose weight. Studies have also proven that regular exercise will lower stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol while at the same time raising production of endorphins. Endorphins are considered to be the body’s “natural pain killer.”
#3 – Key Anti-Inflammatory Substances/Supplements: You can also feed your body other natural substances that will lower inflammation in the body overall. Some super inflammation reducers include curcumin (found in turmeric), ginger, and garlic. All three of these substances are not only anti-inflammatory, they are immune boosting and have been proven to have profound effects against cancer as well.
Some experts also recommend the substance low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) for RA pain. They report that patients have used it as a safe, non-toxic choice for weaning off of traditional RA medications. Studies are also beginning to show LDN as having some fairly profound healing effects against cancer as well.
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Article Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful and often serious autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 1.5 million adults in the U.S.
The good news is that both Rheumatoid Arthritis and cancer are chronic conditions that can respond extremely well to dietary changes, lifestyle tweaks, and natural healing modalities which work with the body’s natural repair and healing mechanisms.
Women are more likely to be afflicted by Rheumatoid Arthritis than men. Most women begin to feel the effects of RA at a median age of 45, while men tend to get it later in life.
The cause of RA is epigenetic − meaning it is mostly caused by factors in a person’s environment. Toxic exposure, bad dietary choices, emotional wounding, chronic stress, and poor intestinal health are all contributors to heightened inflammatory responses that can lead to autoimmune disease.
Research has shown that people with RA are at a higher risk of both non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s disease as well as myeloma (a rare form of cancer that affects the white blood cells). Perhaps the biggest cancer risk for those with RA, however, are the medications that are typically prescribed to treat it: NSAIDS, DMARDs, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) meds, and corticosteroid injections.
Your immune system has the ability to heal when given the right circumstances and environments to do so. In addition to following an anti-inflammatory diet with lots of veggies which are naturally anti-inflammatory, here are three easy protocols to consider for reducing pain and even HEALING yourself of RA:
- Strengthen Your Gut
- Gentle Mindfulness Movements
- Take Key Anti-Inflammatory Substances/Supplements such as turmeric, ginger, and garlic
These articles are great, but I miss the old ‘printer friendly’ option in such sites. Not all my elderly friends have computers, and I even like to print off the occasional article for my files.
Hi Patty,
Thanks for your comment!
I will suggest this to those who create the pages our articles are on. We have noticed that on some computers you can copy and paste the text into a word document without any issues.
Yes, but the best ones eliminated all unnecessary ads, photos, etc. and sent it directly to the printer. Those were the days.
Patty,
If you copy only the text it shouldn’t include the advertisements or photos. I do remember those days though! I will suggest this for you.
Thanks for your quick reply. I’ve about given up on this anyway.
You could always keep the articles like they are but then include a link to a ‘printer friendly’ optional page.
Travis,
Thanks for the suggestion!
Please let me share with you my journey thru Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was prescribed the drug methotrexate n prednisone. After reading thru the treatment l abandon it. I use traditional herbal chinese medicine. I went to China Japan friendship hospital in Beijing. I chose treatment by traditional chinese medicine.( TCM). Took it for a year. My RA stopped progressing n experience lesser pain. I was able to go to Tibet for holiday. There l chance upon a TCM clinic. They have medicine for RA . It’s called 25 flavours including donkey blood tablets. I consumed for 6 months..( 二十五味bi 血丸。l got better but unable to buy it when l came back to Sydney. There l saw another TCM doctor. And another herb songgolanggit which is a weed. Letting out blood using a diabetic needles pricking my fingers also help in reducing inflammation. Using tiny acupuncture needles embedded in my joints also help in reducing the pain. After 5 years of medication I am now free from pain with no deformed fingers. The approach is holistic in nature. Of course it helps to believe in God and positive thinking . My poor Friend took the western medicine has suffered deformed fingers n Cushing back n still in pain. Depressed n unable to work. A beautiful lady.
Hi Jennifer –
Thanks for sharing this with us.
God bless you and we wish you endless good health and love! 🙂
nice article
Thank you for the nice feedback and your support!
What role does antibiotics play in causing leaky gut and RA? Shouldn’t VITAMIN C be mentioned under “Key Anti-Inflammatory Substances/Supplements?”
So my son just got diagnosed with this. Started on methotrexate. What you say is prebiotic and probiotics but where do you get these that are good, instead of off shelf that are it in label only , costly but in fact not the real deal . Diet? Just vegetables? Cut out all else., meat, fruit etc? Need specifics.
Fermented veggies are natural probiotics.( kimchi, sauerkraut, liquid probiotics like Good Belly brand) Get from refrigerated section only. Shelf stable ones have been heated and probiotics have been killed in the pasteurization process.
Excellent series, fantastic insights! Thank you!
You say that ‘all autoimmune conditions are reversible by working WITH the body’; while I’m wholeheartedly behind this paradigm conceptually it dies sometimes feel like an unattainable utopia for many. Would you point me to people that are willing to talk about their experience of successfully reversing Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In addition any doctors who have successfully taken patients with Type1 Diabetes Mellitus that are now not Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients would be extremely helpful.
Waiting with unbearable anticipation for your response.
Thank you so very much for your info, I have an X-wife and now my best friend who is being medicated to death by a wonderful.loving, caring, M.D. for those that don’t know what M.D. stands for that is [MORE DRUGS, ] I just can’t get her to understand that this wonderful person is killing her! Can you help???
Hi Victor,
We are so sorry to hear what your loved one is going through. The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
I can’t thank you enough for these thought provoking and informative articles. I look forward to seeing them in my inbox and always refer back to your site if I need reassurance and advice. You are changing the world I know it people are waking up and you have catapulted that change and I’m sure aided in so many peoples life changing journeys. Keep spreading the word and thank you for making this information free for those who can’t afford the programs. It is a life raft in life’s shipwrecks. Many blessings to all of you for your work and may love and light keep guiding you so you can continue to help others. THANK YOU TY!
You forgot vaccines as a very prominent “environmental” factor.
My niece developed R.A. as a toddler, after receiving the MMR vaccine.
An early 1970 report by the Department of Health and Human Services declared that “as much as 26% of children receiving rubella vaccination in national testing programs developed arthralgia and arthritis.”
In my book “The Vaccination Connection” (available to read free online at PeopleforReason.org), there is more information on this and other deliberately hidden facts about vaccination.
Helpful and informative article. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading it Allie! We hope you found a lot of useful information.
Ty and his wife have been a MAJOR help to my health transformation. I am a 47 year old female and nearly two years ago I woke up with the sudden onset of symptoms related to an auto immune-type disease, and over the past 21 months I’ve read, researched, eliminated toxins from my body, my house, and tried nearly every supplement that has ever been suggested to remotely help inflammation. Turmeric didn’t help much – and while being on a ketogenic diet helped, the one thing that TRULY helped me walk again and be able to walk stairs again and at least reduce the pain from inflammation was this: proteolytic enzymes combined with 2-3 ibuprofen, taken on an empty stomach …. I take just before bed, and the again around 10:30-11:00 in the morning. It took about 10 days for it to kick in, but the results feel miraculous. I still need to search for WHY this is happening and find the source, but the enzymes are bridging the gap. Inflammation affects everyone differently and the cure or relief for each person will be equally unique. But if you struggle with RA and haven’t tried proteolytic enzymes, please look into it and see if it may help you as it has me. My pain went from 10+ to 2-3. I hope my experience will help others.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for being part of our mission. We are so glad to hear that our information has helped you so tremendously!
I’ve been researching these enzymes, and found a study done by Dr. Wolf back in the ’60s… led me to this recent supplement: https://healnsoothe.com/blog/systemic-enzyme-therapy-is-it-right-for-you/
*No I’m not trying to sell a product either, as I haven’t even tried it yet. But yes these proteolytic enzymes do work. Just wanna be sure to find the right one. Everyones a snake oil specialist these days.
Thank you. for this article, very informative.
Thanks for reading Ruby!
There are also studies that have been done that show an inverse relationship between autoimmune and cancer. Such as people with rheumatoid factor have less breast cancer…..not more. Possibly a benefit of an over zealous immune system. Once medicinal side effects kick in then I am sure the positive effects are negated.
You mention methotrexate in this article. I had a complete molar pregnancy in April 2017. It became Gestational Trophoblastuc Disease following the emergency removal at 3 mths of the abnormal placental. I researched as much as I was able to but was unable to find anyone with experience of treating GTD naturally. I very very reluctantly ended up taking methotrexate…50mg 8 times a month for 5 mths.
How can I get in touch with you ….I still have autoimmune disease in my body and need advice. The UK is rubbish when it comes to good naturopath.
I’ve been ill for 7 years …long story. Please email me if you can.
We are so sorry to hear what you are going through Julie. We cannot provide you with medical advice, so the best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Great article
This was a good article but I was extremely disappointed that you didn’t mention at all, the foods that need to be taken OUT of the diet – industrial seed oils, gluten, dairy, and sugar – before bothering to add turmeric, garlic, and/or ginger – just saying “bad dietary choices” is no help to people reading this who are still mostly on the SAD diet.
I just simply love all the work you are doing with TTAC. What I’m looking for is is the name of the Sauna we can buy. Please let me know!!! Tyia
Hi Jan,
We are so glad that you are with us and that you are learning so much! We unfortunately cannot recommend a specific sauna at this time, but here is a great article for your reading pleasure: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/infrared-sauna-benefits/
Best wishes!
Rheumatoid arthritis is extremely uncomfortable especially if you have to bend and do chores around the house. Sometimes people do not even sleep because of so much pain. Imagine people have to get dressed and the rheumatoid arthritis is preventing them from doing it.
I have RA for 24 years. I been on cortisone, prednisone, salazopirine, methotrexate, Humira and now at 40 I head up with brest cancer.
I now for sure that Humira made this happen.
Thank you for this article, very good advice 👏