A doctor has warned people about common prescription and over-the-counter drugs that could raise their risk of cancer.
The disease, which is the second leading cause of death in the US, kills around 600,000 Americans every year, but around 40 percent of cases of the disease can be prevented through lifestyle changes.
There are some factors such as smoking and drinking, being active and maintaining a healthy weight that can increase the risk of cancer — but so can some medication.
Dr Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist based in New York, revealed to DailyMail.com the five drugs that she said people needed to be aware could cause cancer.
She reiterated that no one should stop taking a prescription medication before talking to their doctor and highlighted that any risks and benefits should be discussed with your doctor.
‘With every medicine, you have to balance the risks vs the benefits,’ she said. ‘Those are different for different people depending on underlying conditions and family history.’
The first drug on her list were birth control pills, some of which contain man-made forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Prescribed to more than one in ten women every year, they work by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg — helping to prevent a pregnancy.
Dr Yalda Safai, a psychiatrist based in the US, revealed the drugs that she said could raise someone’s risk of cancer
But the artificial rise in hormone levels that they cause can also lead to damaging mutations in cells, said Dr Safai, raising the risk of certain cancers — like breast cancer.
‘The pills do increase the risk of breast cancer,’ she told DailyMail.com, ‘but they also lower the risk of other cancers such as ovarian cancer.’
A 2013 study warned that regular use of birth control was linked to an eight percent higher risk of breast cancer, while a 2017 study involving 1.8million women said those using the drugs had a 20 percent higher risk of the cancer than those who never used them.
Dr Safai said that despite these large numbers it was important to note that it was an uncommon effect of taking the pill.
She said those considering taking birth control should also be aware of their family history of cancers, and speak with their doctor before using them if someone in the family had previously had breast cancer.
The drug may also reduce the risk of ovarian cancer because it reduces the number of times a woman ovulates, or releases an egg, and therefore reduces exposure to hormones that can cause DNA mutations.
The second drug on her list were over-the-counter own-brand cold medications sold by CVS, Walmart, Target and Walgreens.
Earlier this year it was revealed that generic versions of the cold medicine Mucinex contained the cancer chemical Benzene.
Some generic versions use a more cost-effective powder to achieve the drug’s extended-release benefits that contains benzene unlike the name-brand cold medicine.
The drugs were both over-the-counter and prescription medications and were commonly used
The FDA has said that the ingredient will be phased out of use in pharmaceuticals by 2025, but this deadline was extended to 2026 following complaints from the industry.
Dr Safai told DailyMail.com that benzene is a group one carcinogen, and has previously been linked to blood cancers like leukemia.
The substance has also been found in some hand sanitizers and shampoos, as well as dry shampoos which caused alarm in October 2022.
The EPA, CDC and American Cancer Society all say online that benzene exposure raises someone’s risk of developing cancer.
Next, Dr Safai pointed to the over-the-counter drug ranitidine, brand name Zantac an anti-heart burn drug that could raise someone’s risk of cancer.
It was widely available to purchase until 2020, when an investigation revealed the drug contained high levels of a contaminant called N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).
NDMA is a chemical that studies have previously shown raises the risk of developing cancer in the liver, stomach, bladder and prostate when exposed to high doses.
An investigation found that while NDMA levels were within permissible limits when the drug left the factory, they quickly rose within weeks of the drug reaching shelves.
Zantac was recalled in 2020 and is no longer available for sale in the US, but Dr Safai included them in her list because Zantac may still be lurking in some people’s medicine cabinets.
‘I still have stuff in my medicine cabinet from five years ago,’ she said, ‘so yeah, it 100 percent could still be in people’s cupboards.’
Also on the list was Zantac, pictured above, which was recalled in 2020 over cancer risks. But Dr Safai said it could still be lurking in people’s medicine cabinets
She said instead of Zantac people could use Pepsin, which is also available over-the-counter and does not contain NDMA.
The fourth substance included in Dr Safai’s list was supplements in general.
Dr Safai said: ‘These are the most concerning really, because there is no testing and no regulation so we don’t know what is in them and what the long-term effects might be.
‘Big studies have been done in the past on supplements like melatonin, for example, which is available over-the-counter and says it can help someone fall asleep.
‘These studies found that what was actually in these supplements was very different to what they said was in them on the marketing material. Because they are not regulated they can effectively do whatever they want.’
She added: ‘I always tell my patients not to take supplements unless they absolutely have to because you just don’t know what’s in it.’
Asked which supplements she would be most concerned about, she said the list was broad and wide-ranging and pointed to previous cases of contaminants been detected.
These include the supplement maker BlackOxygen, which was barred from the market in 2021 after testing showed that its fulvic acid supplements were actually laced with high levels of lead and arsenic, two metals linked to cancer. It was also sued by four people in Georgia.
In 2022, non-profit Clean Label Project screened 134 protein powders for 130 types of toxins and found that many contained heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercurcy.
Estimates suggest that about 59million Americans use some type of vitamin or supplement regularly, spending an average of $510 annually on the substance.
Among supplements to be recalled were Black Oxygen tablets, which were found to contain heavy metals like lead and arsenic
The final drug that Dr Safai added to her list was hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
Prescribed to millions of women every year, it is used to help reduce symptoms of the menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness by boosting levels of estrogen and progesterone.
But, like with birth control pills, this can also raise a woman’s risk of suffering from certain types of cancer.
Dr Ashwin Sharma, the medical communications manager at ZipHealth and MedExpress, added to DailyMail.com: ‘HRT, often prescribed for menopause symptoms, has been associated with a slightly higher risk of breast cancer.
‘However, it is also linked to a reduced risk of other cancers, such as esophageal cancer. This underscores the importance of considering both risks and benefits when evaluating any treatment.’
He added: ‘Understanding how risks are presented is also crucial. For example, a “20 percent increase in relative risk” may sound alarming, but the actual change in absolute numbers is often minimal.
‘To illustrate, an increase from 1 case in 10,000 to 1.2 cases in 10,000 represents a statistically small rise that might not significantly impact most individuals.’
The doctors said people should check with their primary care physician before they stop using any medication they have been recommended or prescribed.
