Web MD

December 10, 2009

Bone-Building Drugs appear to Cut Breast-Cancer Risk

Another look at the NIH-sponsored Women’s Health Initiative study found about a 1/3 reduction in breast cancer in the group of women on bisphosphonates—Fosamax, Boniva, Zometa. In the 152,00 non-users, 4.4% were diagnosed with breast cancer. In the 2,800 who reported oral bisphosphonates use, 3.3% were diagnosed with cancer after an average of 7.8 years of follow-up. Why these drugs might impart that protection is unknown. The study design did not randomly assign matched groups to the non-treated group and the treated group, which weakens the result. The side effects of this class of medication include bone and muscle pain, and rare jaw bone fractures and death of the bone.

Dr. Gardner’s comments: I find it interesting that a non-study like this can be printed in the Web MD, in support of the Big Pharma machine. Let’s, instead, look at another product that has been proven to reduce all cancers, including breast cancer, by 30%. This research is supported by more than 200 epidemiological studies, which was the result of more than 2,500 laboratory studies that support the concept. Another study, randomized, placebo-controlled showed a reduction of 60% of all cancer risk.

Beyond cancer, this product drastically lowers your risk of heart disease and fight colds and flu year round. You may already know what I am talking about—Vitamin D (which is really a hormone derived from cholesterol). This cancer risk reduction takes place when the vitamin D level is in the 55 to 70 range in the body. Which should I choose to reduce my risk of breast cancer —drug with side effects, that interferes with the repair of bone, expensive, unknown mechanism of action or vitamin D, which has no side effects until levels reach above 100, is inexpensive, and has a safety profile decades long?

Another safer approach to osteoporosis is the use of a mineral called strontium. Only 2 to 3 mg is needed per day for proper matrix building of the bone, in combination with the other bone-building minerals like calcium, magnesium, boron, zinc, biotin, silicon. At high doses, strontium provides a stimulus to the bone to reverse osteoporosis.