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You may have read the story about how antibiotics increase your breast cancer risk . . . but don't take everything you read as gospel. Here's the initial story . . . followed next by a critique of this perplexing research.
Research links antibiotics to breast cancer
By Warren King
Women who take even moderate amounts of antibiotics appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer, Seattle researchers have found.
Women who take even moderate amounts of antibiotics appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer, Seattle researchers have found.
The risk of the disease as much as doubles in those who take the most antibiotics, compared with women who don't take the medications, the scientists concluded in a large study of Group Health Cooperative members. "A study trend indicated that the more antibiotics taken, the higher the risk for the cancer," said Christine Velicer, an epidemiologist at Group Health's Center for Health Studies. and lead author of the research report appearing in tomorrow's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
But don't stop taking your antibiotics. As mentioned above, not everyone believes this research. Research isn't always what it seems to be. Read on for the opposing view:
Dubious antibiotic cancer link
By Steven Milloy
Antibiotic use increases breast cancer risk, according to a new study. But after scrutinizing the study, I'm leaning toward linking grant-hungry researchers and a publicity hungry medical journal with reprehensible sensationalism.
The study in the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported all levels of antibiotic use were associated with increased risk of breast cancer and death from breast cancer.
The study triggered an avalanche of "Antibiotics Linked to Breast Cancer" news reports, most of which were sensibly tempered with "don't panic," "don't stop taking antibiotics" and "more research is needed" caveats.
Antibiotic use for 1 to 50 cumulative days reportedly was associated with a 50 percent increase in breast cancer risk. Antibiotic use for more than 1,000 cumulative days reportedly was associated with a 100 percent increase in risk. The results sound scary, but here's why they're not:
Click here for the rest of the story
The study in the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported all levels of antibiotic use were associated with increased risk of breast cancer and death from breast cancer.
The study triggered an avalanche of "Antibiotics Linked to Breast Cancer" news reports, most of which were sensibly tempered with "don't panic," "don't stop taking antibiotics" and "more research is needed" caveats.
Antibiotic use for 1 to 50 cumulative days reportedly was associated with a 50 percent increase in breast cancer risk. Antibiotic use for more than 1,000 cumulative days reportedly was associated with a 100 percent increase in risk. The results sound scary, but here's why they're not:
Click here for the rest of the story
And if you haven't yet heard, Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, has stopped studying Viagra's effect on sexual dysfunction in women.
Pfizer Inc. to end tests of Viagra for women
Associated Press
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. is ending research on whether the anti-impotency drug Viagra can be used to treat female sexual problems because studies on women were inconclusive, the company said.
Experts agree that female sexuality is more complex than male sexuality, involving psychological and physical factors. Joe Feczko, president of Worldwide Developing at Pfizer, said diagnosing sexual difficulties in women "involves assessing physical, emotional and relationship factors, and these complex and interdependent factors make measuring a medicine's effect very difficult."
The above is not meant to be medical advice. Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc.
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