Research done by a cancer research center in Seattle found new evidence about the risk of developing breast cancer that may concern women who are currently taking birth control pills. While the link between oral contraceptive pills and the cancer has long been debated, the new findings may call for an even closer examination of the connection between the two.
Research done by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle examined medical records of more than 1,000 women and found that those taking oral contraceptives had a 50 percent increase in likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer. The research group examined a study published in “Cancer Research” that showed that women taking pills with 50 micrograms or more of ethinyl estradiol in each pill, increased their risk of developing breast cancer threefold. Also, triphasic combination pills that contain .75 mg of a synthetic form of progesterone were found to increase the risk of breast cancer.
The study found that women taking low-dose estrogen pills, which is 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol, did not increase their risk for breast cancer. The study leader said that the results should be approached cautiously and the initial findings “need to be replicated before anyone can make clinical recommendations to women in terms of choices.”
Risks related to birth control pills have been acknowledged by the FDA, resulting in new labels that require manufacturers to state on certain contraceptives, namely Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella and Beyaz, that these drugs have been linked to higher risks of blood clots, strokes and pulmonary embolisms than other birth control pills.
Patients should consult their doctors before making any changes in their medication. If you developed breast cancer, but the diagnosis was missed or delayed, contact Lopez McHugh for a free consultation with a qualified and trusted attorney who can answer your questions and ensure your legal rights are protected. Call today because if you wait too long, you may be barred from recovering for your injuries by your state’s time limits.
