Dangerous bone med now a source of double jeopardy to women
They’re calling it the next big breakthrough in stopping breast cancer.
But it just may end up breaking your bones instead.
Researchers are claiming that the osteoporosis med Prolia — which has already been linked to serious bone breaks — could stop a dangerous form of breast cancer from ever forming.
It’s a horrifying recommendation that could put countless women right in harm’s way.
And, as usual, it has Big Pharma’s grubby fingerprints all over it.
One expert called Prolia “a health Molotov cocktail” — and, trust me, that’s an understatement.
It’s a twice-a-year- shot for osteoporosis that’s been linked to a laundry list of side effects (more on those in a minute).
But instead of trying to keep women away from Prolia, a group of Australian scientists is trying to repackage it as the “holy grail” of breast-cancer prevention.
In their new study, these researchers looked at women who have a mutation in their BRCA genes, which can lead to breast cancer. That’s the same mutation that actress Angelina Jolie had — and that leads lots of women to get both breasts removed.
If you believe the study, Prolia inhibited a type of BRCA protein that triggers cancer. The mainstream was so jazzed about the research that they’re already setting up for a clinical trial at NYU’s Langone Medical Center.
All good news, right? Yeah, not exactly.
Because there’s plenty you deserve to know about both this research and the folks behind it.
As I said, the study came from a team of Australian scientists. However, there were some Americans involved behind the scenes. Ones from Seattle, Wash., right out of the Amgen department of pathology.
That’s Amgen, as in the drug company that makes Prolia.
But that’s not all. In fact, the study itself was financed by Amgen, and there were even stockholders and former employees involved. It was practically a company picnic!
Of course, all the glowing media reports failed to mention that.
Then there’s Prolia itself, the med actress Blythe Danner pitches and a drug that might take first prize in the side-effects department.
It’s been linked to doozeys like osteonecrosis of the jaw (when the jawbone literally dies), fractures of the femoral (thigh) bone, the longest and strongest bone in your body, “serious infections” and bone, joint and muscle pain.
And that’s just the short list!
Look, it would be wonderful to be able to report to you that a reasonably safe way to prevent breast cancer has been found.
But Prolia, I’m sorry to say, is anything but.
And that’s the truth, no matter how many studies Amgen wants to finance.
Sources:
“Unlikely drug may block breast cancer in high-risk women” CNN Wire Service, June 21, 2016, fox6now.com
