Brittle bone pills could cut risk of breast cancer

Published on Tuesday 2 March 2010 20:03

PILLS used to treat brittle bones may reduce the risk of breast cancer by more than a third.

Scientists say that women who took the drugs, known as bisphosphonates, for two years or more cut their cancer risk by almost 40 per cent.

Researchers in the United States compared almost 3,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer with a similar number who did not have the disease.

The longer women took the drugs, the more they appeared to be protected.

Study leader Dr Polly Newcomb, said: "These medications inhibit the growth of many cell types, and this large study suggests that the development of breast tumours may be affected."

Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: "

It's important that researchers find out more about how these drugs act on cancer cells and whether the drug is appropriate. Before any drug can be recommended thorough testing needs to be completed."