I hesitate to mention this but

[Deb and Pippin]

I feel I should just in case. I dont want anyone to worry unnecessarily but Pippins tumor was not the usual lymphoma, nor was it on the liver or intestines. It was however where he got most of his Lantus shots in that flank and I have a very bad feeling that that might have been the problem, there is no way to know for sure but I was wondering if anyone had read anything about Lantus causing tumors?

 

[Venita]

I was wondering if anyone had read anything about Lantus causing tumors?

(((Deb))) There has been some discussion of it as it relates to humans, but the last I heard the studies were inconclusive. Article.

 

[Jaye and Chester]

Found this info from http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLS34709320090628

The Danish drugmaker has distanced itself from a scare over diabetes treatment Lantus, pointing out its modern insulin Levemir had different characteristics to Sanofi-Aventis's product.
Scientists analyzed data from 21 randomized trials and concluded Levemir was associated with a statistically significant lower rate of cancer than human insulin treatment.
Incidence of cancer was also lower when compared with Lantus, though the difference was not statistically significant, according to the analysis, released at a European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Vienna.
Studies have highlighted a possible link between Sanofi's drug Lantus, or glargine, and cancer and the French group is investigating further.
Lantus and Levemir are both long-acting insulin analogues used by diabetics to control their blood sugar, but Levemir was launched more recently and so was not assessed in those studies.
Novo Nordisk says Levemir is different from Lantus because it does not bind any more than human insulin to the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor, which is known to be involved in promoting tumor growth.

Of course, everything in these studies is preliminary.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

this subject has been discussed on the fdmb a few times. i have two previous discussions bookmarked.
there's links to more information contained within these two threads:

Concerned about Lantus's alleged link to cancer
Lantus may increase the risk of cancer


links to more information:

Use of insulin glargine and cancer incidence in Scotland: a study from the Scottish Diabetes Research Network Epidemiology Group
ADA-ACS Report: Diabetes and Cancer
Lantus Official FDA Information (from drugs.com)
Lantus insulin: a possible link with cancer which requires further investigation


hope this helps. please take the time to read through the materials before coming to any conclusions.

 

[Ann & Tess GA]

This is making me a little nervous. I have recently noticed what seems like a thickening of the skin in the area where I give Tess her shots. I alternate sides just behind the shoulder blades. It's on both sides. I thought it might be scar tissue developing from all the pokes, so I have been spreading the area out where I inject her. Anyone else notice anything like this?

If I take her to the vet what type of exam or test should I ask for?

 

[Libby and Lucy]

This is making me a little nervous. I have recently noticed what seems like a thickening of the skin in the area where I give Tess her shots. I alternate sides just behind the shoulder blades. It's on both sides. I thought it might be scar tissue developing from all the pokes, so I have been spreading the area out where I inject her. Anyone else notice anything like this?

Ann, I would start by just moving your shot location for a little while and seeing if it goes away. I used to always shoot Lucy on the same side of her scruff and she did develop some thickness. When I moved the shot location, the thickness went away. I figured it was kind of like a callus. You might find that her insulin response improves too, if the insulin can get where it is going easier (I did).

 

[Ann & Tess GA]

Thanks Libby, I've already started to move the shot around. I too thought that it seemed like callusing or scarring so I have expanded the area considerably. I'm not sure just how many days ago i noticed it, sometime in the last week. This just raised red flags with me. I'll keep an eye on it for growth or hopefully shrinking.

 

[Barb & Checkers (GA)]

I've not heard of cancer from Lantus, but I too, have started injecting in a different location, because of the thickening, and callouses. I haven't seen it on Checkers, just read it many times.

Deb, thank you for giving us the heads up, while you yourself are grieving your precious Pippin.

 

[Jill & Alex (GA)]

ann, i've had the same thing happen with alex and we use levemir. this is not unusual.

kirsten (tilly's diabetes) makes note of this on her site:

"It is best to inject the sides of the body and not in the scruff of the neck, where the circulation is relatively poor. Initially, I did not take rotating the injection site seriously. Promptly, Tilly had hard lumps under her skin. Then I started to keep a careful record of the position of each injection site, maximizing the time between two injections at the same spot. Within two weeks all the lumps had disappeared."
http://www.tillydiabetes.net/en_6importantfactors.htm

http://www.bd.com/us/diabetes/page.aspx?cat=7001&id=7374

 

[Ann & Tess GA]

Thanks for the reassurances Jill, I guess it was because I just noticed it. I do alternate sides and move the area around, just not enough I guess. Not any more though!

 

[Deb and Pippin]

Ann, this is why I hesitated to post about this, I dont want anyone worrying unnecessarily thats for sure, sugar babies have enough problems but it has been bothering me and I had to ask if anyone had read about a correlation between lantus and tumors.
It is most likely just coincidence the tumor appeared right in the area I have shot him for ages, I would shoot the flank on the right side while he was eating because it was the most accessible area and made sure I moved the locations in about a 3 inch circle so he didnt get it in the same exact spot over and over and thats exactly where the tumor appeared.
Its making me feel guilty that I may have caused this but on the other hand, lantus was the only thing that worked for him and without it I wouldnt have had almost 2 more years with him would I? In ferrets they liken one human year to one month of life, if thats the case it bought him almost 20 years more time with us.
I used the scruff too but it got that thick scar tissue type thing so I moved to the flank, the thickness in his scruff did go away in time and I think that is a normal thing related to all the pokes in the same area.
All the kitties on lantus and none I have heard of with tumors, possibly its just a reaction that ferrets will get, I just dont know.

 

[Libby and Lucy]

I haven't read Jill's links yet, so I can't comment intelligently on whether the injection could have caused the tumor. However, your point is important that Pippin needed insulin or he would have been gone much earlier. Sometimes you have to balance the pros and cons and just make the best decisions you can. If there *was* a proven correlation between Lantus injections and cancer, would you have chosen to take the chance and give the insulin anyway? Probably so, since that is the insulin that worked best for him so the benefits would outweigh the risks. That's just my opinion, of course.

 

[Seattlebrian]

When I started on Vetsulin, my vet warned me about injecting in the same place every time. Something about the subdermal layer can develop a thickening from the irritation of injection. He told me if it starts getting really bad on the scruff of the neck, then change to injecting in the flank until the neck heals up.

 

[Kim 'n Shadow]

Human diabetics are taught to rotate sites, it only makes sense for our little sugarkitties. I appreciate the heads-up Deb.