Health Conditions A-Z Rheumatic Conditions Rheumatoid Arthritis Does Cancer Cause High Rheumatoid Factor (RF)? By Tammy Worth Tammy Worth Tammy Worth is a freelance healthcare reporter with over 20 years of experience. Her work appears across several publications including The Economist, Bloomberg, Health, Leader’s Edge, WebMD, and KCPT, Kansas City’s public television station. health's editorial guidelines Updated on June 21, 2024 Medically reviewed by Stella Bard, MD Medically reviewed by Stella Bard, MD Stella Bard, MD, is a practicing board-certified internist with 15 years of experience. learn more In This Article View All In This Article Lymphomas Lung Cancer Skin Cancer Myeloma Leukemia Prostate Cancer Colorectal Cancer Breast Cancer Frequently Asked Questions Cancers related to a high rheumatoid factor (RF) include lymphoma and lung cancer. RF is a protein your immune system produces when it targets and attacks healthy cells. High RF levels typically occur in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes joint pain and swelling. You may be at increased risk for certain cancers and decreased risk for others if you have RA. Medications that treat RA can also increase cancer risk. Here's what to know about different types of cancers and how they relate to RA. Qin PinLi / Getty Images Lymphomas Lymphomas are relatively rare cancers of the blood. People with RA have twice the average risk of lymphomas. The main types of lymphomas are non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Hodgkin's Lymphoma RA increases the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, cancers of immune cells or lymphocytes. Non-Hodgkin is more common than Hodgkin's in people with RA. The reasons for the increased risk of these lymphomas are continued disease activity and immune stimulation. Inflammation is present when RA is active. The immune system responds to inflammation. Managing RA can help reduce disease activity and inflammation. Lymphoma Linked to TNF Inhibitors Research has shown that people with RA who take a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor are at risk for hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This lymphoma is a rare and fatal subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The risk is relatively small, and TNF inhibitors remain an important part of RA therapy. People also use TNF inhibitors to treat other inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TNF inhibitors Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Enbrel (etanercept), Simponi (golimumab), and Cimzia (certolizumab). Lung Cancer Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs grow out of control. RA has been linked to lung cancer risk, and smoking is a major factor. People with RA have a higher risk of lung cancer than the general population. This risk increases even more if you have RA and smoke. The best thing you can do for your health is to quit smoking. Smoking can increase your risk of RA and worsen the disease. Even people who do not smoke and have RA have a 40% higher risk of lung cancer than people who smoke and do not have RA. Chronic inflammation may be one reason for the increased risk, but it's not the only one. How To Quit Smoking Looking for support? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has numerous resources available in multiple languages to help you kick the habit. You can do it. It's never too late. Current smokers, recent quitters, and former smokers can find multiple tools and tips at smokefree.gov to be successful at quitting. Skin Cancer Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among the general population. This type of cancer causes skin cells to grow uncontrollably. RA does not necessarily put you at high risk of skin cancer, but the treatment may. Certain RA medications come with a higher risk of certain skin cancers. Methotrexate and biologic drugs may slightly increase the risk of two types of non-melanoma skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It's a relatively minor concern, and both of these forms of cancer are highly treatable. TNF inhibitors used in RA treatment also increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, especially SCC. The risk of BCC, in contrast, does not increase. There has also been some concern that treatment with TNF inhibitors may increase the risk of melanoma. This is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. RA itself does not seem to affect melanoma risk. Some evidence suggests that TNF inhibitors may raise melanoma risk. The link between melanoma and RA is not clear. A study published in 2017 of more than 130,000 people with RA did not show an increased risk among those taking TNF inhibitors. You'll likely receive disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) instead of biologics like TNF inhibitors if you have a history of melanoma. DMARDs include methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, and sulfasalazine. Myeloma Multiple myeloma is a relatively uncommon form of cancer that affects white blood cells called plasma cells. The American Cancer Society (ACS) predicts about 35,730 new cases are diagnosed per year. Chronic inflammatory diseases like RA may increase the risk of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). An abnormal protein in your blood causes MGUS. MGUS can progress into multiple myeloma in some people. Leukemia A rare form of blood cancer, large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia, seems to occur more often in people with RA. Research has shown that as many as 36% of people with LGL leukemia also have RA. LGL leukemia is rare. The cancer has been linked to other autoimmune disorders, including celiac disease. Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is relatively common. It's the second most common cancer in American males. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer results when cells in this gland grow uncontrollably. Research has looked into the relationship between prostate cancer and RA. The consensus seems to be that there is no consistent trend in risk among people with RA. People with RA appear to have about the same risk of prostate cancer as the general population. Colorectal Cancer Colorectal cancer affects the cells of the colon or rectum, causing uncontrolled growth. Research has found a decreased risk of colorectal cancer in people with RA. People with colorectal cancer and RA tend to have more severe cases and poorer prognosis than those without RA. 9 Foods That May Help Reduce Your Risk of Cancer Breast Cancer Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American females. This cancer occurs when cells in the breasts grow out of control. Research has shown that people with RA tend to have a slightly decreased risk of breast cancer. People with a history of breast cancer also tend to have a lower risk of RA. It's not yet clear what causes this link between breast cancer and RA. Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) advises that women get mammograms every two years beginning at age 40. This is 10 years earlier than the previous guidelines. More research is needed on whether people with dense breasts need additional screenings, as well as the potential benefits and risks of screening people older than 75. A Quick Review RA can increase the risk of certain cancers like lymphoma, lung cancer, and skin cancer. The increased risk of these cancers may be due to inflammation, medications, or both. RA may also lower the risk of colorectal and breast cancer. Talk to a healthcare provider if you're concerned about how RA or its treatment affects your risk of cancer. Several of these cancers are rare, so the risk is already relatively low. Keep up with recommended cancer screenings. Do your best to manage symptoms and reduce inflammation. Frequently Asked Questions What does it mean if your rheumatoid factor is high? A high RF level usually occurs in people with autoimmune disorders like RA. Rheumatoid factors might be causing symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.Not everyone with a high RF level has an autoimmune disorder. A healthcare provider may order tests to confirm a diagnosis. What autoimmune diseases have a high rheumatoid factor? A high RF level is commonly associated with:Mixed connective tissue diseases, or a rare disease that causes symptoms of more than one autoimmune disorderMixed cryoglobulinemia, or a rare disease in which you have cryoglobulins (proteins that thicken and stick together in cold temperatures) in the bloodRASjögren syndrome, which causes dry eyes and mouth Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which affects several organs (e.g., the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, and more) How do you treat high rheumatoid factor? You might be able to decrease RF levels by treating the underlying cause. A combination of exercise, medications, physical therapy, and surgery, for example, can treat RA. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 25 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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