Drug 'doubles cancer risk'

A DRUG taken by thousands of osteoporosis sufferers could double their risk of developing cancer of the gullet.

A study by the University of Oxford's Cancer Epidemiology Unit and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency of more than 75,000 people found those who used oral bisphosphonates for over five years were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with oesophageal tumours than those never prescribed the medication.

The pills are used to treat osteoporosis, which effects three million people in the UK, and other bone diseases and are the most commonly recommended treatment for such conditions.