The increase risk of breast cancer can also be caused with the use of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) according to several studies. However, researchers discovered a gene that helps people cope with stress and depression, a welcome development for patients prescribed with antidepressants.
Researchers at the Cancer Care Ontario says that women who used newer-generation SSRIs such as Zoloft is believed to have a “substantial increase” seven-fold more likely to have breast cancer.
Researchers suggest that this could be because antidepressants affect the enzymes (the proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body) involved with the metabolism ( the body’s processing) of carcinogens and estrogen, both of which are linked to breast cancer.
Case-control study was conducted by researchers in identifying the 700 women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer from 1995 to 1996 and compared them with a random sample of 700 women who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer during that period.
However, until now the research data regarding the use of SSRI and breast cancer is highly controversial, according to the wellness resources website that accuses big pharmaceutical companies of funding “scientist for hire” to cranked out studies that denies the association of the antidepressants and breast cancer, which is a blatant and fraudulent misrepresentation of SSRI risks and benefits.
61 studies was reviewed associating the use of antidepressant can cause breast cancer as stated in an issue in the April 2011 open-access article published in Plos One21.
The overall data showed that there was an 11% increase in risk for breast cancer associated with all types of antidepressants. The association between the SSRI type of antidepressants and cancer was stronger than for any other type of antidepressants and the increase in the risk of cancer among women.
The April 2011 study also evaluates the relationship of the authors with the makers of antidepressants.
The 15 researchers which was supported by the pharmaceutical companies didn’t find any risk of SSRIs to cause breast cancer while 43% of the researchers not funded by the these pharmaceutical found clear evidence of cancer risk.
Zoloft birth defect is one of the severe side effect of Zoloft which is an SSRI antidepressant drug linked with breast cancer is still the centre of several debates and thorough research. If this allegation is proven, these pharmaceutical companies will lose billions of dollars and will face several lawsuits.
REFERENCES:
www.dslrf.org/breastcancer/content.asp?CATID=60&L2=5&L3=6&L4=0&PID=&sid=132&cid=598
www.wellnessresources.com/freedom/articles/why_antidepressants_cause_brain_damage_breast_cancer_and_early_mortality/
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/depression/Patient/page2
