Lets begin with an important disclaimer. The study discussed here regarding aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their seeming link to an increase in breast cancer risk is still under review and requires further study. In fact, these findings fly in the face of other studies that speak to the contrary.
According to the study that followed 114,460 women aged between 22 and 85 years over a six year period, aspirin increases the risk of estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor negative breast tumor (a tumor not driven by female hormones) by 81% and has little to no effect on reducing the risk of estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive breast tumors (tumors that are partially driven by female hormones).
Women that took ibuprofen daily for at least five years were shown to have a 50% greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who used it less frequently.
Earlier research suggested that NSAIDs possibly would reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Building upon these suggestions, Marshall and her team expected their results to say the same. It was surprising for them to find evidence that suggested the opposite.
Skeptics, including respected Columbia University researcher Alfred Neugut, say the findings in this study contradict everything discovered so far regarding NSAIDs and breast cancer. The results could be some kind of fluke with other factors that were missed by the USC research team.
The researchers admit they don’t know the reason for the link as there are no known carcinogens in the drugs.
But Marshall still champions the integrity of her study.
“We were expecting ibuprofen to reduce risk, and the same for aspirin. These drugs are not preventing breast cancer as earlier studies suggested that they might,” she said.
