A doctor has warned people about common prescription and over-the-counter drugs that could increase the risk of cancer.
The disease, which is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., kills about 600,000 Americans each year, but about 40 percent of cases of the disease can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
There are some factors, such as smoking and drinking, being active, and maintaining a healthy weight, that can increase the risk of cancer, but so can some medications.
Dr Yalda Safai, a New York-based psychiatrist, revealed to DailyMail.com the five drugs she said people should be aware of that could cause cancer.
He reiterated that no one should stop taking a prescribed medication before speaking to their doctor and stressed that any risks and benefits should be discussed with their doctor.
“With every medication, you have to balance the risks and benefits,” he said. “Those are different for different people depending on underlying conditions and family history.”
The first medication on his list was birth control pills, some of which contain artificial forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Prescribed to more than one in ten women each year, they work by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg, helping to prevent pregnancy.
Dr Yalda Safai, a US-based psychiatrist, has revealed the drugs she believes could increase a person’s risk of cancer.
But the artificial increase in hormone levels they cause can also lead to harmful mutations in cells, Dr. Safai said, increasing the risk of certain cancers, such as breast cancer.
“The pills increase the risk of breast cancer,” she told DailyMail.com, “but they also reduce the risk of other cancers such as ovarian cancer.”
TO 2013 study warned that regular use of birth control was linked to an eight percent increased risk of breast cancer, while a study 2017 A study involving 1.8 million women said those who used the drugs had a 20 percent higher risk of cancer than those who never used them.
Dr Safai said that despite these large numbers, it was important to note that taking the pill was a rare effect.
She said those considering birth control should also know their family history of cancer and talk to their doctor before using it if anyone in the family has had breast cancer before.
The drug may also reduce the risk of ovarian cancer because it reduces the number of times a woman ovulates or releases an egg and therefore reduces exposure to hormones that can cause DNA mutations.
The second medication on his list was over-the-counter. private label cold medicine sold by CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens.
Earlier this year it was revealed that generic versions of the cold medicine Mucinex contained the carcinogenic chemical benzene.
Some generic versions use a more cost-effective powder to achieve the extended-release benefits of the benzene-containing medication, unlike the brand-name cold medicine.
The medications were prescription and over-the-counter medications and were commonly used.
The FDA has said the ingredient will be phased out of pharmaceuticals by 2025, but this deadline was extended to 2026 following complaints from the industry.
Dr Safai told DailyMail.com that benzene is a group one carcinogen and has previously been linked to blood cancers such as leukaemia.
The substance has also been found in some hand sanitizers and shampoos, as well as dry shampoos, causing alarm in October 2022.
The EPA, CDC, and American Cancer Society say online that exposure to benzene increases a person’s risk of developing cancer.
Next, Dr. Safai pointed out over-the-counter products medicine ranitidine, trade name Zantac an anti-heartburn medication that may increase the risk of cancer.
It was widely available for purchase until 2020, when an investigation revealed that the drug contained high levels of a contaminant called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
NDMA is a chemical that previous studies have shown increases the risk of developing liver, stomach, bladder and prostate cancer when exposed to high doses.
One investigation found that while NDMA levels were within allowable limits when the drug left the factory, they increased rapidly within weeks of the drug hitting shelves.
Zantac was taken off the market in 2020 and is no longer available for sale in the US, but Dr. Safai included them on her list because Zantac may still be lurking in some people’s medicine cabinets.
“I still have stuff in my medicine cabinet from five years ago,” he said, “so yeah, 100 percent of it could still be in people’s closets.”
Also on the list was Zantac, pictured above, which was removed from the market in 2020 due to cancer risks. But Dr. Safai said it could still be hidden in people’s medicine cabinets.
He said that instead of Zantac people could use Pepsin, which is also available over the counter and does not contain NDMA.
The fourth substance included on Dr. Safai’s list was supplements in general.
Dr Safai said: “These are really the most worrying, because there is no testing or regulation, so we don’t know what they contain and what the long-term effects might be.”
‘There have been large studies in the past on supplements like melatonin, for example, which is sold over the counter and said to help you sleep.
‘These studies found that what these supplements actually contained was very different from what they said in the marketing material. Because they are not regulated, they can effectively do whatever they want.”
He added: “I always tell my patients not to take supplements unless absolutely necessary because you just don’t know what’s in them.”
When asked which supplements he would be most concerned about, he said the list was broad and wide-ranging and pointed to previous cases of contaminants being detected.
These include supplement maker BlackOxygen, which was banned from the market in 2021 after tests showed its fulvic acid supplements actually contained high levels of lead and arsenic, two metals linked to cancer. He was also sued by four people in Georgia.
In 2022, non-profit clean label project examined 134 protein powders for 130 types of toxins and found that many contained heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury.
Estimates suggest that around 59 million Americans use some type of vitamin or supplement regularly, spending an average of $510 a year on the substance.
Among the supplements that were recalled were Black Oxygen tablets, which contained heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.
The last drug Dr. Safai added to her list was Hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Prescribed to millions of women each year, it is used to help reduce menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, by increasing estrogen and progesterone levels.
But, like birth control pills, this can also increase a woman’s risk of certain types of cancer.
Dr Ashwin Sharma, director of medical communications at ZipHealth and MedExpress, added to DailyMail.com: ‘HRT, often prescribed for menopausal symptoms, has been associated with a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.
‘However, it is also linked to a reduced risk of other cancers, such as esophageal cancer. “This underscores the importance of considering both risks and benefits when evaluating any treatment.”
He added: ‘It is also crucial to understand how risks present themselves. For example, a “20 percent increase in relative risk” may seem alarming, but the actual change in absolute numbers is usually minimal.
“As an example, an increase from 1 case in 10,000 to 1.2 cases in 10,000 represents a statistically small increase that may not significantly affect most people.”
Doctors said people should consult with their primary care doctor before stopping any medication they have been recommended or prescribed.