Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

As a medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago, I am intrigued by the results of this new Breast Cancer study. Once proper and thoroughly testing is completed, the drug will hopefully make an impact on many lives. Marilynn Marchione reports, “A new study finds that two drugs are both good options for helping prevent breast cancer in older women at higher risk of developing the disease.” (AP Medical, 4/19).

Doctors assert that the drug tamoxifen can cut the risk of developing breast cancer in half. Additionally, a newer drug called raloxifene, which is sold as Evista, does nearly as well and is, according to testing, safer. Women on Evista had fewer cases of uterine cancer and other serious side effects.

Both drugs are already in use for different ailments: Tamoxifen is commonly used to treat breast cancer, and Evista used to treat osteoporosis. Doctors are hopeful the new study results will lead to wider usage of the drugs to prevent breast cancer in high risk patients.

According to a new study, “The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90 percent of U.S. women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life” (AP Chicago, L. Tanner, 4/5). The results of the study are estimated, but were published last Monday in the Journal of Pediatrics and corroborated by several experts. The findings suggest that breast-feeding may help prevent hundreds of infant deaths and many costly illnesses including juvenile diabetes, stomach viruses, asthma, and even childhood leukemia. The science behind the conclusions is surprisingly simple: breast milk contains antibodies passed from mother to child that help babies fight infections.

Although approximately “43 percent of U.S. mothers do at least some breast-feeding for six months, but only 12 percent follow government guidelines recommending that babies receive only breast milk for six months… [In support of the study,] Dr. Larry Gray, a University of Chicago pediatrician, called the analysis compelling and said it is reasonable to strive for 90 percent compliance.

It is also important to note, as Dr. Gray did, that many mothers are unable to breast feed for six months because their jobs and other demands often make it impossible to do so. Hopefully, this is changing as the new health care bill included provisions for breast-feeding mothers. These provisions are not perfect however because it “requires [only] large employers to provide private places for working mothers to pump breast milk.“ As a medical malpractice and personal injury attorney, I sincerely hope that employers and the health care system alike made necessary changes to spread this compelling information about the benefits of breast feeding that have the potential to save not only lives, but reduce costs as well.

Recent results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding a drug for prostate cancer prevention suggest that the drug leads to a higher risk of heart failure. (M.Marchione, AP, 4/1). The drug, Avodart, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline PLC us already used for urinary problems, thus far without any heart risk failure issues. However, this surprising finding may “dampen enthusiasm for expanding its use.”

The mechanics of the study involved 6,700 men with high scores from PSA blood tests but no sign of cancer on biopsy. Each male was given Avodart or dummy pills and new biopsies four years later at which time prostate cancer was discovered in 25 percent of cases for those on dummy pills and 20 percent of cases for those on Avodart. The five percent risk reduction is “ the same risk reduction as other studies have found from a similar drug, finasteride, sold in generic form and as Proscar, made by Merck & Co. Inc. Studies did not find an increased risk of heart failure with Proscar. In the Avodart study, heart failure developed in 30 men on the drug versus only 16 on dummy pills.”

Although further analysis of the results suggest that men who developed heart failure while on Avodart also tended to be taking certain other drugs, many researches feel that further analysis and testing is necessary. As a medical malpractice and products liability attorney in Chicago, I agree, and hope that the FDA takes necessary steps to ensure that the drug is safe.

Recent research suggests “up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more.” (M. Cheng, AP Barcelona, 3/25). As a medical malpractice attorney, I am intrigued by this new information.

Although technological advances have allowed “better treatments, early diagnosis and mammogram screenings” to dramatically curtail breast cancer, experts are now shifting focus to prevention measures. "What can be achieved with screening has been achieved. We can't do much more," Carlo La Vecchia, head of epidemiology at the University of Milan, said in an interview. "It's time to move on to other things. La Vecchia spoke Thursday at a European breast cancer conference in Barcelona. He cited figures from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which estimates that 25 to 30 percent of breast cancer cases could be avoided if women were thinner and exercised more.”

His opinions are consistent with recent health guidelines that advise women to make changes in their lifestyle areas such as smoking, diet, exercise and sun exposure. Considering breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, lifestyle changes are a small price to pay for overall better health and cancer prevention. A woman's lifetime chance of getting breast cancer is about “one in eight. Obese women are up to 60 percent more likely to develop any cancer than normal-weight women. Even in slim women, experts believe exercise can help reduce the cancer risk by converting more fat into muscle.”

The cancer society recommends 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity five or more days a week to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Although it is difficult to make major life style changes, the potential benefits make it well worth it.