Statins May Help Fight Prostate Cancerby Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger 08 May 2009 11:47 AM Several recent studies took a look at how cholesterol-fighting statins could help men with prostate cancer... and the results are encouraging. A study from the University of Toronto found that men who took statins prior to prostate surgery had a thirty percent reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence. The researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins may be key. More research is necessary to determine the optimal dose and length of time a person needs to take statins in order to benefit. Would taking statins after prostate removal be as beneficial? They don't know just yet. A study from Duke University's Prostate Center took another look at the connection between statins and inflammation. Researchers looked at the inflammation inside prostate cancer tumors and found that men who took statins had a lower risk for tumor inflammation -- as much as seventy-two percent lower. Weight also plays a role here; obese men tend to have increased inflammation in prostate tumors and more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. A study from Johns Hopkins University looked at using statins to help curb the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Results were favorable, but more research is planned. The Mayo Clinic led several studies on statins and found:
The bottom line? Statin medications may not be just for cholesterol anymore! More studies are planned to investigate the role statins may play in preventing and treating prostate cancer -- and possibly other cancers. The American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association will be keeping an eye on future studies. Learn more about Aimee Amodio  Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover... Relevanthealth tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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