In a study published this week by the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers linked acetaminophen to several forms of blood cancers. Acetaminophen is the main ingredient in over-the-counter products like Tylenol and Excedrin, and it is also found in many cold medicines. The association of cancer with acetaminophen use was greater among women than among men, but the reason was unclear and will require further study. The researchers considered factors including the length of time the drug was used and determined there to be an almost two-fold increased risk of cancer for use at least 4 days/week for at least 4 years. The study identified 577 cases of blood cancer out of the 64,839 people ages 50 to 76 who participated. The blood cancers included non-Hodgkin lymphomas, plasma cell disorders and myeloid neoplasms. Acetaminophen was the sole drug in the study found to be associated with an increased blood cancer risk. By comparison, there was no increase risk found with chronic use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you or a loved one used acetaminophen and were then diagnosed with cancer, or if you have any questions regarding this blog posting, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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