Do Antibiotics Cause Breast Cancer?

This week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association contains an article and editorial on antibiotics and the risk of breast cancer. The study suggests the possibility that antibiotic use may significantly raise the risk of breast cancer.

This is my humble opinion of what this study means. Because of the study design, it is not possible to know whether antibiotic use caused cancer or whether the relationship is spurious. For example, people with a lighter in their pockets are more likely to die of lung cancer, but that's not because of the lighter, that's because they are more likely to be smokers. So the suggestion that antibiotics can cause quite so much harm is of great concern, but the real scientific answer is not available.

What does that mean for you? Just to be a good consumer. Gently ask your doctor:

- Are you prescribing an antibiotic?
- Is it absolutely necessary, or is it likely that I will get better soon without it?
- What is the shortest number of days you think will be sufficient in this case?
- What do you think about the possible link of antibiotics to breast cancer?

Here are some conditions for which health care providers are known to prescribe too many antibiotics:
(We do this because we figure if you are in the office it's because you have suffered long enough and maybe this will make a difference...)

- sore throat
- bronchitis
- sinusitis
- ear infections

Thoughts? Comments? Panic?

Comments

[Andy]

It's always such a toss-up. So much of the terror and panic we feel everyday is driven by an hourly news cycle. Sometimes I think most people are too lazy to consdier that correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation.

[John Krotchko, MD]

Some really good points brought up here. I haven't seen the article but wonder if, as you suggested, this is a spurious correlation and if there isn't another correlation like cigarette smoking. Is there a way to link to this article? Have the results of this article been reported in the mainstream or non-medical press?

[Myrto Ashe]

The findings have been well-covered in the media, as far as I can see doing a Google search. Most sites that reported these findings are breast cancer sites and news sites. The fact that the findings need to be proven valid was emphasized. The conclusions that antibiotics should not be avoided, but also should not be taken when not needed, was also emphasized. The AMA has made the editorial available at www.ama-assn.org/special/880.pdf, but I think you need a subscription to read the whole article.

[sumaira hassan]

i read articles published in JAMA.i think so that there exists link between use of antibiotics and cancer.long term studies should be carried out on animals to evaluate carcinogenic potental at molecular level,cytogenetical level.i found these articles very interesting.as use of antibiotics is irrational.even for mild infection doctors recommened antibiotics without being carried out cultural sensitivity test.so thais refers us to do cultural sensitivity testbefore using antibiotics.

[Lisha]

An introduction to the breast cancer section, this article sums up the essence of the content that will be
explained at length in the course of the articles.

[Lisha]

An introduction to the breast cancer section, this article sums up the essence of the content that will be
explained at length in the course of the articles.