Infection? Or Breast Cancer?

[Tiger]

I'm not one of those folks who runs to the doc and gets an RX for antibiotics everytime I have a little sniffle.

But I know plenty of women who do.

Now there is a link between antibiotics and breast cancer - something I would not worry about ANYWAY - since you have to have breasts first - to get it. ;D

But seriously - you gals who take antibiotics - be careful.

Antibiotic use is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer, a new study has found, raising the possibility that women who take the widely used medicines are prone to one of the most feared malignancies.



The first-of-its-kind study of more than 10,000 Washington state women concluded that women who used the most antibiotics had double the chances of being struck by breast cancer, that the association was consistent for all forms of antibiotics and that the risk went up with the number of prescriptions, a powerful indication that the link was real.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45831-2004Feb16.html

[Observer]

EVERYTHING is associated with an increased risk of Breast Cancer.

[jeny]

EVERYTHING is associated with an increased risk of Breast Cancer.


Except breastfeeding, that is associated with a DECREASED risk, in case you wanted to know. ;D

And Tiger, you stole my thunder, I was going to post this story. ;)

[kathleen]

Except breastfeeding, that is associated with a DECREASED risk, in case you wanted to know. ;D

There is more than one thing that decreases the risk of breast cancer.

I wish people would just take the time to educate themselves, instead of waiting for the medical community, government or whatever to come up with the answers for them. ::)

[jeny]

There is more than one thing that decreases the risk of breast cancer.

Pregnancy to term, that's another one that decreases risk. ;D I know there are more. I was just being me. ;)

I wish people would just take the time to educate themselves, instead of waiting for the medical community, government or whatever to come up with the answers for them. ::)


Well, I am antibiotic phobic, I wouldn't even take them when I had my wisdom teeth pulled.

[kathleen]

Pregnancy to term, that's another one that decreases risk.

Just basic good health will decrease the risk of breast cancer, even combined with some of the known risk factors.

Good health doesn't mean having to follow a difficult complicated plan. It doesn't even mean keeping up with the latest scientific research and avoiding the "health risk" of the day. No one (unless you are a health-conscious hillbilly hermit and even then there is some doubt) can avoid all known and potential health risks. It is impossible to do.

Eat a natural healthy diet with lots of fruits and veggies, keep to a normal weight, exercise regularly, drink in moderation, don't smoke and learn how to handle stress effectively.

That's all you have to do to increase your chances of avoiding breast cancer (and all other types of disorders as well). Unless they are genetically based. Then you are screwed. ;)

Well, I am antibiotic phobic, I wouldn't even take them when I had my wisdom teeth pulled.


I would say I'm pharmacautically phobic - I hate those pill-pushing, poison producing companies. But I will use their products (including antibiotics) very occasionally, when I think there is no other option.

I don't think antibiotics are necessarily a bad thing. But the overuse of them is.