Statins are a class of drugs that are used to lower cholesterol. How statins affect over all health is an important question. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 11 and 30 million adults in the US currently are prescribed statins to manage high cholesterol levels. As well, some health experts believe that many more people who currently do not use statins could benefit from taking them.
Given the millions of people who take statins and the millions more who may begin taking them in the future, researchers want to be sure these medications don't have serious negative health effects. When it comes to statins and cancer risk, the picture that has emerged in the past is somewhat confusing. Some research suggests statins may protect against cancer and a few studies have hinted that statins may increase risk of certain cancers.
Fortunately, the latest research, a large, well-designed study out of Finland clarifies things and offers reassurance for the many millions of people taking statins. These medications do not appear to increase risk of any cancer types, including the most commonly occurring colorectal, breast, prostate, and lung cancers.
If your doctor recommends that you take a statin to lower your cholesterol and you have personal concerns about colon cancer, the latest research should give you confidence that taking a statin will not increase your cancer risk.
