OXYGEN
01/06/2005, 11h44
Study links pain relievers and breast cancer
By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY
A new study of California teachers fuels the debate about whether aspirin, ibuprofen or other, related pain relievers affect breast-cancer risk. Although research has consistently linked use of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory pain relievers with a lower risk of colon cancer, findings about the drugs' effect on breast-cancer risk have been mixed. Some suggest that the pain relievers protect against breast cancer, while others have found no link.
(...)
when the scientists broke their findings down by pain reliever or type of breast cancer, they found:
• Women who took ibuprofen daily for at least five years were about 50% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those who did not take the drug regularly.
• Women who took aspirin daily for at least five years were 80% more likely to develop breast cancers that were not sensitive to the hormones estrogen or progesterone than women who were not regular users of aspirin.
• Long-term daily aspirin users were 20% less likely to develop the more common type of breast tumor, one that is sensitive to hormones. But, the scientists write, the difference was so small it might have been a result of chance.
No one should stop or start taking a pain reliever because of her study's findings, Marshall cautions. However, she says, "I'm fairly convinced from our studies that aspirin and ibuprofen are not reducing breast cancer."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-31-aspirin-breast-cancer_x.htm
By Rita Rubin, USA TODAY
A new study of California teachers fuels the debate about whether aspirin, ibuprofen or other, related pain relievers affect breast-cancer risk. Although research has consistently linked use of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory pain relievers with a lower risk of colon cancer, findings about the drugs' effect on breast-cancer risk have been mixed. Some suggest that the pain relievers protect against breast cancer, while others have found no link.
(...)
when the scientists broke their findings down by pain reliever or type of breast cancer, they found:
• Women who took ibuprofen daily for at least five years were about 50% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those who did not take the drug regularly.
• Women who took aspirin daily for at least five years were 80% more likely to develop breast cancers that were not sensitive to the hormones estrogen or progesterone than women who were not regular users of aspirin.
• Long-term daily aspirin users were 20% less likely to develop the more common type of breast tumor, one that is sensitive to hormones. But, the scientists write, the difference was so small it might have been a result of chance.
No one should stop or start taking a pain reliever because of her study's findings, Marshall cautions. However, she says, "I'm fairly convinced from our studies that aspirin and ibuprofen are not reducing breast cancer."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-31-aspirin-breast-cancer_x.htm