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Study Shows Link Between Use of Antibiotics and Breast Cancer
Aired February 17, 2004 - 05:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And some unsettling news for women. Medicine that's supposed to make us feel better and clear up infections could, over the long run, put us at greater risk of getting breast cancer.
CNN's Holly Firfer has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've all heard about the dangers of over using antibiotics and bacterial resistance, but a new study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" says that taking antibiotics may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.
Researchers studied 17 years of medical information from more than 10,000 women.
DR. CHRISTINE VELICER, GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE: On average, women who used antibiotics for more than 500 days had a twofold risk, increased risk of breast cancer.
FIRFER: The more they took, the greater the risk.
DR. ROBERTA NESS, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: It's as strong as any of the risk factors that we know. I mean, to put it in perspective, the risk for developing breast cancer from hormone replacement use is about a 30 percent increase, 30 to 40 percent increase in risk. And here we're talking about a doubling of risk for those women who are using chronic antibiotics.
FIRFER: While breast cancer risk from hormone replacement therapy has been well documented, this is the first study connecting breast cancer with antibiotics. Researchers aren't sure why there's an increase in breast cancer risk with antibiotic use, so they don't recommend changing the way you use antibiotics yet.
VELICER: So for right now, yes, people need to recognize that both the substantial benefits, as well as some potential risks of using antibiotics.
FIRFER: Here are some tips on the safest way to use antibiotics. If your doctor thinks antibiotics are the best meds, then take them.
Never take them for a cold, cough or the flu. Take the full course of treatment, even after you're feeling better. Never take left-overs. It could delay treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
Medical experts are recommending that further studies be done to confirm those findings. In the meantime, women should be sure not to overuse antibiotics.
Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Cancer>
Aired February 17, 2004 - 05:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And some unsettling news for women. Medicine that's supposed to make us feel better and clear up infections could, over the long run, put us at greater risk of getting breast cancer.
CNN's Holly Firfer has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've all heard about the dangers of over using antibiotics and bacterial resistance, but a new study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" says that taking antibiotics may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.
Researchers studied 17 years of medical information from more than 10,000 women.
DR. CHRISTINE VELICER, GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE: On average, women who used antibiotics for more than 500 days had a twofold risk, increased risk of breast cancer.
FIRFER: The more they took, the greater the risk.
DR. ROBERTA NESS, UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: It's as strong as any of the risk factors that we know. I mean, to put it in perspective, the risk for developing breast cancer from hormone replacement use is about a 30 percent increase, 30 to 40 percent increase in risk. And here we're talking about a doubling of risk for those women who are using chronic antibiotics.
FIRFER: While breast cancer risk from hormone replacement therapy has been well documented, this is the first study connecting breast cancer with antibiotics. Researchers aren't sure why there's an increase in breast cancer risk with antibiotic use, so they don't recommend changing the way you use antibiotics yet.
VELICER: So for right now, yes, people need to recognize that both the substantial benefits, as well as some potential risks of using antibiotics.
FIRFER: Here are some tips on the safest way to use antibiotics. If your doctor thinks antibiotics are the best meds, then take them.
Never take them for a cold, cough or the flu. Take the full course of treatment, even after you're feeling better. Never take left-overs. It could delay treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.
Medical experts are recommending that further studies be done to confirm those findings. In the meantime, women should be sure not to overuse antibiotics.
Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Cancer>
