Has anybody every had chemotherapy to treat rheumatoid arthritis?

Question

My brother is 26 and in good healt other than he has been diagnosed with R.A. He starts chemo for treatment (pills). What can he expect and how does this work. I would like to hear from someone who has been through it or has knowledge of it. I have had cancer and went through chemo but I know his experience will be different.

Answer 1

I haven't had that, but know a number of people who do. They generally give methotrexate in a pulse dose- once a week. The dose is less than with cancer and the side effects are considerably less (no hair loss, not as much stomach upset etc.). Generally, there are good results. There are some restrictions on how much alcohol you can drink around the time of taking it.

Answer 2

I had a rheumatoid arthritis some years ago .The doctor told me that this disease will be suffered as long as my life.At that time my right thumb leg finger was swollen.I could get sleep along the night.I was injected by penniciline as an antibiotic and was cured.But after that I had another swollen joint on my knee.I could not walk and sleep well.I consulted to another doctor .He said I had an arthritis and I was given an antibiotic pills.When I got the symptom in other joint I went to another doctor in other city,she told me that I had rheumatoid gout.My blood contained more uric acid that was 8 while yhe normal for men its maximum is only 7.She told me that I should drink only fresh water a non uric drink at least one and a half litre a day.The other drinks contains acid.I should manage a diet by avoiding drinks and foods that contain more acid or purin.such as bowels,spinach,tangkil delicacy,durian fruits,fermented rice or cassava ,alcoholic drink etc If I suffered that disease I will eat one zirolic 50 mg pill three times a day which can outflow the excess acid through urine.I have no chemo therapy because it is only for a cancer disease healing treatment.With those treatments I can manage well my gout disease.

Answer 3

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long term disease which is caused when the immune system attacks the human body. More information on rheumatoid arthritis, home remedies and treatment is available at http://tinyurl.com/z5vx5

Answer 4

I have R.A. too (but I'm much younger).
I was given methotrexate which is a chemo drug, I know it's not really the same thing as having full on chemo but it did make me feel really ill. I found it extremely hard to get up in the mornings, partly due to the pain (which didn't reduce much when I was on the pills) and partly due to the nausea it gave me.
I don't know if that helps, but I really hope it works for him.