Use of ibuprofen, aspirin linked to breast cancer

[baby_bear]

If aspirin causes breast cancer, I give up.

http://www.foodconsumer.org/777/8/Use_of_ibuprofen_aspirin_linked_to_breast_cancer.shtml

<snip>
Use of ibuprofen, aspirin linked to breast cancer
By John Roberts Ph.D.
Jun 1, 2005, 12:17

Long term daily use of ibuprofen was linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and long term daily use of aspirin was linked to an increased risk of estrogen receptor /progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative breast cancer, according to a new study in the June 1 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
...
The study found that regular use, defined as more than once a week, of NSAIDS was not linked with an increased breast cancer risk. However, long term daily use of aspirin was associated with an increased risk of estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-negative breast cancer while long term daily use of ibuprofen was associated with breast cancer, particularly nonlocalized cancer respectively.

The authors said that more prospective epidemiologic studies are needed to clarify the long term effects of aspirin and ibuprofen, and tissue-specific effects of NSAIDS on breast cancer development remain to be understood.

</snip>


b_b

[Vanje]

1. Dammit!

dammit

[Maple]

2. Ahh but sunshine cures it

Didn't you read that the other day? Kidjanot.

Ignore all this stuff...we've used aspirin for 5000 years, and it's the most tested and safest drug on the planet.

This is an effort for grant money.

[merwin]

3. I would bet money on this being sponsored by the drug companies

behind Vioxx, etc. Get people to start using their products again by slamming other products.

Did you know that a new study came out saying that the leading cause of death ON THE PLANET is.... breathing. Yup, everyone who breathes ends up dead. Go figure.

[Maple]

5. Yup, the biggest cause of dying

is being alive

[baby_bear]

7. No, it was not

California Teachers Study

very reputable

But I think that headline may have been overblown (too certain).

Here's another quote
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-31-aspirin-breast-cancer_x.htm

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.

The latest study, out today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, is the first to suggest that long-term ibuprofen or aspirin use might actually raise the risk of breast cancer. But the lead author says there is no biological explanation for that surprising finding.

[merwin]

8. It's about as conclusive as saying broccooli cures cancer.

[devinsgram]

18. Absolutely, I am so sick of these studies

One day it is not good for you the next day it is. They put these out to scare people so instead of you taking over the counter meds, you run to the doctor for prescriptions which in turn helps the doctors and pharmacutical companies. Money, money, money, money, money that is all it is about.

[FlaGranny]

22. Aspirin is

probably NOT the safest drug on the planet.

http://www.medicinenet.com/acetylsalicylic_acid/article.htm

"DRUG INTERACTIONS: Aspirin should be avoided by patients with peptic ulcer disease or poor kidney function, since this medication can aggravate both conditions. Aspirin is avoided in patients taking blood thinning medications (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin), because of an increased risk of bleeding. Some asthma patients can have worsening of breathing while taking aspirin. Aspirin can alter the blood uric acid level and is avoided in patients with hyperuricemia and gout. Children and teenagers should avoid aspirin for flu or chickenpox symptoms because of the associated risk of Reye's Syndrome, a serious disease of the liver and nervous system that can lead to coma. Aspirin is not habit forming. Aspirin can increase the effect of medicines used to treat diabetes mellitus, resulting in abnormally low blood sugars if not monitored. NSAIDs should be discontinued prior to elective surgery because of a mild tendency to interfere with blood clotting. Aspirin is best discontinued at least ten to fourteen days in advance of the procedure."

"SIDE EFFECTS: Most patients benefit from aspirin and other NSAIDs with few side effects. However, serious side effects can occur and generally tend to be dose related. Therefore, it is advisable to use the lowest effective dose to minimize side effects. The most common side effects of aspirin involve the gastrointestinal system and ringing in the ears. It can cause ulcerations, abdominal burning, pain, cramping, nausea, gastritis, and even serious gastrointestinal bleeding and liver toxicity. Sometimes, stomach ulceration and bleeding can occur without any abdominal pain. Black tarry stools, weakness, and dizziness upon standing may be the only signs of internal bleeding. Should ringing in the ears occur, the daily dose should be reduced. Rash, kidney impairment, vertigo, and lightheadedness can also occur."

[BamaGirl]

4. Well of course it does

cuz I live on motrin lol. :P Guess it's a good thing I'm allergic to aspirin, huh lol?

[anitar1]

6. I gave up long ago on all these pronouncements.

I have heard all this turned around at least 3 or 4 times in my lifetime. All bullshit.I feel like Shultz--I hear nothing, know nothing and see nothing. Just trying to live in a healthy manner, in spite of all the polluting factors.Thank God I live in Oregon--land of organic foods.

[Maple]

9. Yup load of hokum

One week it'll kill ya, next week it's the only thing that'll save ya.

Nonsense, the lot of it.

The truth is, they don't know what causes it. But in the meantime there are a gazillion things they can blame it on to alarm the public and generate further studies...and grant money.

[OzarkDem]

27. Support quality research funding

Hey, they're using your tax dollars to pay for it.

Its time we advocate for better use of research funds than repeated studies on the same unproven theories, instead of finding new ways to beat a dead horse.

If I see another study on dietary fat and breast cancer, I may scream.

[Robert Oak]

10. follow the money

I'm in a "deep throat" cliche this evening..

but honestly I wonder if corporations are funding "studies"
to blast other competitive products.

Everyday I read "potatoes cause cancer, potatoes have potassium"
"aspirin saves you from strokes and hearts attacks, aspirin
will cause your brain to bleed" and on and on.

It's every day, like a "media event" if you catch my drift.

[preciousdove]

11. Inflammation leads to cancer, people take NSAIDS for inflammation

That has been a fact forever. Really, really stupid study.

[Fridays Child]

12. This is what I'm trying, next, for my arthritis...

http://www.iherb.com/celadrin2.html

I hope it works.

[bdot]

13. Living is linked to cancer.

Everyone who has died of cancer was previously living.

[pearl]

14. These people should just STFU

N/T

[silverweb]

15. "Living is linked to dying."

I'm so sick of these people and their alarmist bullshit.

Aspirin, one of the original true "miracle drugs," has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and colon cancer. Big Pharma views that as a threat to their profit margin almost as severe as the one "weed" poses.

Ibuprofen is hepatotoxic in large, chronic doses -- but then again, so is everything.

According to the current fact-warping regime, abortions cause breast cancer, oral contraceptives cause breast cancer, talking back to your parents causes breast cancer, and condoms will make your weenie turn cancerous and fall off -- but pollution and environmental toxins have absolutely nothing to do with anything, so stop saying that.

Also, buying your medications from Canada, Mexico, Europe, or anywhere else but your local, completely trustworthy U.S. drugstore will also make your sex organs wither, give you deep incurable wrinkles, and eventually make your head fall off.

Everything's under the control of those who own ... er ... uh ... who know what's best for you, so just hush up now, child, and go back to sleep.


http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2664612?htv=12

[baby_bear]

24. Actually, not everything is hepatotoxic

For one thing, not everything is conjugated in the liver.

But, aspirin can cause hepatotoxicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue disorders.

More needs to be known about this breast cancer study, as the authors had not speculation as to biological reasons for the apparent result. I sure hope it is not true.


b_b

[hlthe2b]

16. Well, at some point you sort of have to balance risk....

with quality of life. Many women I know would have come close to blowing their brains out, had it not been for high dose ibuprofen for PMS and menstrual cramps, while the rest of us would probably be half crippled were it not for the pain relief of motrin.

Then again, aspirin's preventive effects on heart attack and stroke are well established in men and increasingly so for women. Aspirin also appears to reduce risk of colon cancer.


So, moderation, I guess...:shrug:

[nonconformist]

17. I hate this shit!

I take ibuprofen more often than I should (daily usually) for chronic pain - acetaminophen doesn't help me and ibuprofen is the only over-the-counter medicine I've found that does. Yet every time I turn around I'm reading a new study about how it's killing me. *sob* I try not to take it as much as possible, but it's hard to go about life in constant pain and all.

Then again, I take these "cause cancer" bulletins with a grain of salt. I remember one from the mid/late 90's that said peanut butter causes cancer... good grief.

[doodadem]

19. I'm down to 3 aspirin a day

and feeling quite virtuous about it. I used to take handfuls of Ibuprofen, switched to aspirin when Ibu was supposed to cause problems. I figure aspirin/white willow bark is pretty safe considering it was used by Native Americans for hundreds of years--a pretty good clinical trial.
I have too many old broken bones with arthritis in them to go with nothing. I'm also hoping the aspirin helps with the family history of colon cancer.

[rockedthevoteinMA]

20. So coffee, aspirin, ibuprofen....etc... What are we to do?

Women sit in pain, half asleep, can't get birth control filled without being humiliated, etc.... while men have drugs for everything, including sexual pleasure? :eyes:

[LizW]

21. Good grief.

They used to tell us to take an aspirin a day to help lower the risk of colon cancer. And don't some people take a baby aspirin a day to guard against heart disease?

Next thing we know, they'll be saying an apple a day causes cancer!

[FlaGranny]

23. It's dose related.

One baby aspirin a day helps prevent heart attacks by keeping the blood thinned and preventing clot formation. One baby aspirin a day is not going to do anything for pain. That's going to take 3 or 4 regular aspirin a day, minimum.

I have had chronic pain problems for most of my life, since I was in my 20's, and I'm now 65. Ibuprofen always worked better than anything else for me, but I noted a direct correlation with my blood pressure when I took a lot of it, i.e., my blood pressure went up; but, I still take it when I absolutely need to. Otherwise, I get by on MSM (methylsufonyl-methone) and other natural antiinflammatories.

Having worked in the medical field all my life I have learned to avoid medications whenever possible. There are too many side effects (including those of aspirin) - you get the side effects, the doctor gives you another pill to fix that, etc., etc. I've seen cases of elderly folks taking up to 20 different medications. You know THAT ain't good for them. You won't find ME going to the doctor and asking for the latest drug advertised on TV.

[Gloria]

25. OK, I guess I have to live in pain.......

Couldn't take the VIOXX, etc crap even before they were deemed unsafe; Aleve doesn't help; Ibuprofen causes an interaction with a medicine I take daily; that leaves aspirin.

Sigh

[LiberallyInclined]

26. what about opiates?

I have chronic pain due to a congenital condition, and i've been taking methadone daily for years- it doesn't get you "high" or buzzed- it just makes the pain step aside, and lets you feel like a normal person again.

[Bridget Burke]

28. More studies are needed to get the whole picture.

As indicated in the article. How do ibuprofen or aspirin cause the increased risk? How do they actually work? Both drugs also can have other side effects--that should be well known. What do we do for those who suffer from pain--temporarily or long term?

We need government money to do basic science & clinical trials. This study was NOT sponsored by big pharm & we can't depend on drug companies to do all the research. But the current regime has other ways to spend our tax dollars. And it's beholden to the drug companies.