Metformin and Breast Cancer

I was alerted to the clinical trial here in Toronto. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was dx with type 2 diabetes a few months ago (probably a result of the chemo according to my doc) and I've been taking metformin since then. I do hope it can do double duty.

That Dr. Pamela Goodwin researcher has been spot on in the past with her Vitmin D research and breast cancer.

When she gets a passion to investigate something it seems to have real promise. Also, she is a very conservative researcher. She never says anything until she has a lot of evidence.

I had Googled "Metformin and breast cancer" a few months ago because my infertility specialist wanted to put me on it (I'm not diabetic but one of my insulin resistance tests was on the "high end of normal"), and I wanted to make sure it didn't increase cancer risk. I was heartened to find that it seems to lower the risk... needless to say I have been on it for the last three months. I'm glad they're now doing more detailed studies of this relationship. 

BTW, cinnamon is supposedly a natural substance that has a similar effect on insulin resistance that metformin has. I wonder if cinnamon would also have a similar cancer-fighting effect?

Yes Yes Yes I have ben studying this for a year -  and here it is - I am sooo excited -  I have an Ebook about how to use it -  the theory behind it is not really as clear as this but it is all there -  I just wanted to wait until I saw some research before I went ahead .. Thank You for posting this

Linda

Anyone have anything to add about metformin?

There is a great article in this month's edition of "Life Extension" magazine about the benefits of Metformin and it's ability to slash cancer risk.   The article states that there have been trials done with diabetics and the results have been astounding with regard to the reduction of cancers.  In 8,000 diabetics over a 10 year period the drug slashed the risk of all cancers by 54%.  Although talked about and in the planning stages, no trials have been conducted thus far on non diabetics; however, it was Life Extension's contention that you should not wait, and should talk to your doctor about a metformin regimen at a dose of 250-500 mg twice a day.

To quote the article, Metformin operates at the molecular level by activating AMPK, a molecule essential to life.  When AMPK is activated, incipient cancer cells starve themselves to death for lack of adequate energy supplies. 

Trial info:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/73/topic/765092

Clinical trials information for breast cancer and metformin:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=breast+cancer+and+metformin

This one relates to metformin and breast cancer recurrence:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01101438?term=breast+cancer+and+metformin&rank=6

This is the study that sweetbean is talking about.  It is based on a reaction by diabetics to metformin's ability to lower glucose, and they found that it worked better on non-exercise days.  I don't think that necessarily applies to its anti-cancer-fighting abilities.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110819131523.htm

Thanks for the links!

I have read lots about this since I am on it off-label. They are not entirely sure how it's working but it seems to be more complex than just glucose levels being lowered. I have seen it discussed that it is perhaps changing enzyme pathways somehow. Regardleas, I will stay on it and keep exercising. i keep firing so many arrows, hopefully something will work!!

A friend of mine who takes Metformin for diabetes told me that she has extreme fatigue from the drug. Perhaps that is because she is diabetic?

I'm going to look into the side effects of metformin...the article I read said there were little or none, compared to chemotherapy or radiation.  It did issue a word of caution that the drug should not be taken by people who had type 1 diabetes, those who have had heart attack or stroke, or those who had any kind of liver damage as it could cause a potentially life threatening problem.

I think the key phrase here is "compared with chemotherapy and radiation."  Pretty much all SE's are mild compared to losing all your hair, etc.  But still, the stats are very encouraging.  What I really want to do is go to Chicago to visit the Block Center and find out what they have to say about it.

What is interesting about the study is that it seems to say that the subjects were not measured after regular daily exercise, but rather, after a single bout of exercise.  So the exercise may have counteracted the effects of the Metformin because the body doesn't want glucose levels to dip too low AND the body was basically being introduced to two glucose-lowering stratagies at the same time.  Perhaps the results would be different for people who exercise regularly and whose bodies have already adjusted to the impacts of exercise.  Someone should study THAT!

To echo what several others have already said, I take 500 mg twice a day and have absolutely NO side effects at all.

thats-life:  Life Extension recommends starting on 250-500 mg per day.  I know I have read on the site here that there are women take larger doses, but I would imagine your doctor will know what dose is best to begin.  I am going to talk to my doctor about this as well.