Family Life

12.11.09 | FL News Team

A broad study of women's health made the unexpected discovery that two common bone-building drugs may help prevent breast cancer. The study found that women who were taking drugs called bisphosphonates to prevent osteoporosis slashed their risk of getting breast cancer by nearly a third. About 151-thousand women participated in the study, but only 22-hundred were taking bisphosphonates such as Fosamax and Actonel when the study began.

Seven years on, they had 31-percent fewer breast cancer cases. The reduction was found across the board regardless of whether the women had other risk factors for breast cancer such as weight, hormone use or smoking. Researchers say more definitive studies are in the works and will give a clearer picture of what the drugs can or can't do in the fight against breast cancer.