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May 14th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda MONDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) — Widely used blood pressure
medications called beta blockers do not cut a person’s odds of developing
colon cancer, a new study contends.
Beta blockers, which include drugs such as alprenolol, carvedilol,
propranolol and atenolol, are commonly prescribed to older adults for high
blood pressure and heart conditions.
Prior research has also linked use of the drugs to a decreased risk of
cancer. This theory is based on animal and laboratory studies that found
that the stress hormone norepinephrine can promote the growth and spread
of cancer cells. Beta blockers inhibit this hormone’s action.
“One of the holy grails in the war on cancer is preventing
angiogenesis, which is the growth of new blood vessels to feed tumor
cells,” explained Dr. David Robbins, associate chief of the Center for
Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York
City.
“Some investigators have speculated that an indirect benefit of certain
blood pressure medicines may be to help curb the growth of new blood
vessels in breast and perhaps colon cancer,” said Robbins, who was not
involved in the new study.
In this study, published online May 14 in the journal Cancer, a
team led by Michael Hoffmeister, of the German Cancer Research Center in
Heidelberg, compared the beta blocker use of more than 1,700 colon cancer
patients to that of about the same number of cancer-free people.
After accounting for weight, smoking status and other patient factors,
the researchers found no link between beta blocker use and colon cancer
risk.
The finding held true even after the researchers broke down their
analyses by duration of beta blocker use, specific types of beta blockers,
and sites within the colon or rectum where colorectal cancer developed in
patients.
The authors conclude that their findings do not support the theory that
using beta blockers cuts colon cancer risk.
That didn’t surprise Robbins. “The few studies on this matter have been
contradictory and it’s unlikely that we’ll ever see this sort of
protective effect, since cancer is an incredibly complex disease driven by
a myriad of unique biologic pathways,” he said.
Another expert added that even though beta blockers might not help
prevent colon tumors, people have other means of doing so.
“Men and women at average risk should start getting screened at age
50,” said Dr. Mark Pochapin, director of the division of gastroenterology
at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. “Those with certain risk
factors, such as a family history of colorectal polyps or cancer, should
talk to their doctors about screening at a younger age.”
Pochapin also added that “lifestyle modifications — such as quitting
smoking, avoiding excess intake of red or processed meats, ensuring
adequate vitamin D intake, and maintaining a healthy body weight and
regular exercise — can be very beneficial in reducing one’s risk for
colorectal cancer.”
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about colorectal cancer risk factors and prevention.
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