Study: No Link Seen Between Blood Pressure Drugs and Breast Cancer

Fears that have been expressed for many years that drug treatment for hypertension might somehow increase the risk of breast cancer appear to be totally unfounded, according to Swedish researchers.

Data from a Swedish trial begun in 1992 showed "no difference in cancer risk" among patients taking any blood pressure medication, the researchers reported in The Lancet.

Dr. Lars H. Lindholm, professor of medicine at Umea University, said the study of data on more than 6,600 patients was undertaken because of findings over the years suggesting that anti-hypertensive drugs are "associated with an increased cancer risk in the breast, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, as well as with multiple cancer forms."

"No difference in cancer risk was seen between patients randomly assigned to conventional drugs, calcium antagonists or ACE inhibitors," the report said. "Thus, the general message to the practicing physician is that more attention should be given to getting the blood pressure down than to the risk of cancer."

Other Sources: The Lancer