Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSOsteoporosis medication 'doubles cancer risk'
People who take oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis over five years may be doubling their risk of developing oesophageal cancer, according to a UK study published online in the BMJ.
Oxford University researchers analysed data on 2,954 men and women with oesophageal cancer, 2,018 with stomach cancer and 10,641 with colorectal cancer.
They found people with 10 or more bisphosphonate prescriptions over about five years had nearly double the risk of oesophageal cancer compared with people with none. There was no such increased risk for stomach or bowel cancer.
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