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Cancer
Tug of War Over Cancer-risk In Patients Using Statins
Date: 10/09/08
Keywords: Cancer
A new study carried out by doctors at Ulleval University Hospital in Oslo, Norway, compared the number of cancers arising in patients taking the drug with the number in those given a placebo over a four year period.Yesterday my colleague in the US, HSI Director Jenny Thompson, reported on the possible risks for children using statins and ADHD drugs. It seems that bad news is following statins all around. In a news report last week a recent study linked the statin Inegy to a 50 per cent rise in cancer cases.
However, other experts said the results were likely to be an 'anomaly'. And so the tug of war begins and the patient sits in the middle baring the consequences. Aren't we all too familiar with this scenario?
Statins cancer risk: What's the real deal?
Inegy is a combination therapy of two drugs, simvastatin and a newer non-statin drug called ezetimibe. The drug watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) approved wider use of the drug last November for patients with high levels of cholesterol.
A new study carried out by doctors at Ulleval University Hospital in Oslo, Norway, compared the number of cancers arising in patients taking the drug with the number in those given a placebo over a four year period. Scientists reported that of the 1,873 patients involved in the study, 93 developed cancers including skin and prostate tumours, compared to 65 who took the placebo. The results of the study were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Statins cancer risk: Why the anomaly?
According to analysts at Oxford University, two larger scale studies which will involve nearly 30,000 patients and are still ongoing, have not confirmed the cancer link. During these studies, 313 patients taking the statin have so far developed cancer compared to 326 taking a placebo.
Professor Terje Pederson, the lead researcher of the Norwegian study, said that the study's findings could simply be due to random chance.
An editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that more data is necessary to rule out the possibility that the drug was to blame, citing the fact that ezetimibe appeared to affect the absorption of molecules involved in the growth of cancer cells.
Dr Mike Knapton of the British Heart Foundation said: "There is no suggestion that statins increase the risk of cancer... Because one study did show a cancer risk, it is crucial that others continue and are monitored closely to definitively confirm or refute any link."
Statins cancer risk:Where do we go from here?
It's all fair and well that more studies need to be done to get to the bottom of things, but if you are one of the 300 000 patients that have been prescribed Inegy (in England alone) you will certainly have some concerns.
Here are some suggestions of what to do:
- Don't stop using your prescription drugs without consulting your doctor
- Contact your doctor and discuss your concerns about side effects, weighing up the risks and benefits
- If you believe your prescription drugs are doing you more harm than good discuss the possibility of alternative treatments with your doctor
- Combine your prescribed drug treatment with a healthier lifestyle. See our top tips for further suggestions.
- Don't smoke. Smoking is the number one risk factor for cardiovascular health.
- Manage your cholesterol levels by eating more plant foods rich in monounsaturated fat such as olive and canola oil, avocados, almonds, and peanuts.
- Incorporate cholesterol-lowering foods in to your diet such as flaxseed, garlic, onions, red yeast rice, macadamia nuts, pecans, peanuts, cashews and other nuts and grains. Fruits and vegetables such as chilli peppers, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, artichokes and broccoli have shown to have a cholesterol lowering effect.
- Exercise regularly. Daily exercise not only gives you better blood circulation but also relaxes you and improves over-all wellbeing.
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