Can anti-inflammatory drugs prevent breast cancer?
Don’t bet on it. (December 2003) Taking anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, including – among others – Naprosyn, Motrin, Indocin, Feldene) may reduce the risk of bowel cancer to a modest extent. Most, but not all, studies support that possibility – but, it is not clear whether the benefits, if any, outweigh the dangers of the drugs (particularly bleeding). Now, a study, presented at a national meeting, but not yet published, suggests these anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the risk of breast cancer. The investigators asked approximately 81,000 women ages 50 to 79 years about use of aspirin and similar anti-inflammatories. During a four-year followup period, almost 1,400 women developed breast cancer. Those taking at least two tablets a week of an anti-inflammatory had a 21 percent reduced risk of breast cancer if they used the anti-inflammatories for five to nine years, and a 28 percent reduction if they used for at least ten years. Judge
