Question:
understand that melanoma is one of the few cancers that's known to be able to be "contained" by the immune system and that steroids, which can compromise that system, may not be a good idea for those with a family history of melanoma.
The question is this: Should I avoid steroid injections in the lower back for degenerative disc disease pain (i.e. epidurals) if I have a family history of melanoma (father)? Or is it only systemic steroids (e.g. oral prednisone, etc.) that compromise the immune system?
Answer:
Any steroid can suppress the immune system. However, local steroids
into a joint or the epidural space don't have the systemic absorption of long term oral steroids such as used in asthma. Plus, I wouldn't be too concerned about steroids unless the patient had a diagnosis of melanoma (not a family history of melanoma)
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