Paxil linked to breast cancer

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Ladybugs
Ladybugs Member Posts: 1

I have been taking paxil for many years and recently been diagnosed with hormone receptive IDC. I am looking for other women in Canada who have been taking this drug and developed breast cancer as well. I am trying to start a class action lawsuit. I have to stop paxil due to this but also because it inhibits the drug Tamoxifen. so no the horrible withdrawal starts which paxil has already been sued for and lost..

Comments

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited April 2014

    ladybug,

    I am not in Canada, but am curious. Do you info,linking Paxil to development of breast cancer? I am aware that some anti-depressants are not compatible with tamoxifen, but have never heard of a link between them and bc.

  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited April 2014

    exbrnxgrl... I found a few preliminary studies "linking" paxil to breast cancer a number of years ago.  It was associative only and nothing causal had been pinpointed.  The studies are so old, I can't find them again and I haven't been able to find anything more recent than this...

    http://rt.com/usa/study-paxil-breast-cancer-784/

    The thing is, the "link" they seem to be talking about in this particular article is confusing.  It's a well-known scientific fact that paxil inhibits the body from being able to metabolize tamoxifen when the two are taken together; hence the risk for developing breast cancer or  a breast cancer recurrence if you are taking the two drugs concurrently is well-documented.  However, the article never quite makes clear (or thoroughly confuses) this knowledge with whether-or-not paxil alone carries this risk for increasing breast cancer development/recurrence. 

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited April 2014

    Thank you, Selena. The op seemed to imply that Paxil alone was responsible for her developing bc, so I was very curious about that.

    Caryn

  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited April 2014

    I have seen the info somewhere about Paxil and association with increased breast cancer risk, but I did not keep track of that info because I never took Paxil.  It's out there and available either here in the Clinical Trial, etc. forum or on the Internet--I'm quite sure of it.  

  • Navigatingthru
    Navigatingthru Member Posts: 11
    edited August 2015

    Interesting article. I too have been taking paxil for a number of years. Wondering if I should be getting off this drug prior to any post-surgical treatment for bilaterial breast cancers (invasive and non-invasive Ductile carcinomas)? Thank you for the information. I will research more and follow-up with my medical team

  • fcancer2020
    fcancer2020 Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2019

    Greetings,

    I've recently been diagnosed with HR+ S2 & DCIS - after taking Paroxetine (Paxil). I have no gene indicators nor family history. I am looking to start a class action lawsuit as not only are most health care providers unaware of the link between Paxil & development of breast cancer - but it is not listed as a possible danger or side effect. Had I know there was a risk I would have never taken it.

    Please reach out to me if you are still interested in pursuing a case. I believe there are many of us out there with the same diagnosis because of this drug. We should have been given the opportunity to make an informed decision. If we can Google numerous research studies showing a direct link between Paxil & HR+ breast cancer - how did Pharma not know????

    I wish you the best in your recovery.

  • fcancer2020
    fcancer2020 Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2019

    Greetings,

    I've recently been diagnosed with HR+ S2 & DCIS - after taking Paroxetine (Paxil). I have no gene indicators nor family history. I am looking to start a class action lawsuit as not only are most health care providers unaware of the link between Paxil & development of breast cancer - but it is not listed as a possible danger or side effect. Had I know there was a risk I would have never taken it.

    I believe there are many of us out there with the same diagnosis because of this drug. We should have been given the opportunity to make an informed decision. If we can Google numerous research studies showing a direct link between Paxil & HR+ breast cancer - how did Pharma not know????

    There are several links with info on studies - but I can't post them ....

  • fcancer2020
    fcancer2020 Member Posts: 5
    edited August 2019

    Greetings,

    I've recently been diagnosed with HR+ S2 & DCIS - after taking Paroxetine (Paxil). I have no gene indicators nor family history. I am looking to start a class action lawsuit as not only are most health care providers unaware of the link between Paxil & development of breast cancer - but it is not listed as a possible danger or side effect. Had I know there was a risk I would have never taken it.

    Please reach out to me if you are interested in pursuing a case. I believe there are many of us out there with the same diagnosis because of this drug. We should have been given the opportunity to make an informed decision. If we can Google numerous research studies showing a direct link between Paxil & HR+ breast cancer - how did Pharma not know????

    I wish you the best in your recovery.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited August 2019

    I can't find evidence of causality. I do find this:


    https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/By_the_way_doctor_Does_Paxil_cause_breast_cancer

    By the way, doctor: Does Paxil cause breast cancer?

    Published: March, 2006

    Q. I heard there's a relationship between Paxil and breast cancer risk. Is this true?

    A. The short answer to your question is no: The available research does not show that Paxil (paroxetine) raises the risk of breast cancer. The story of how researchers have addressed this question illustrates how medical knowledge advances.

    ...

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2019

    I second what ksusan posted. Also, please be aware that only a minority of bc cases are connected to currently known genetic mutations. Most folks diagnosed with bc have no family history of it

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2019

    I did some deeper googling. Most articles or other media from Feb. 2014, refer to a 2010 Canadian study. And the title on these bits of media? Paxil MAY increase bc risk, may being the operative word. Could not find any current research to support this, but lots of law firms willing to talk to you about class action suits! Some very well done web sites, even featuring live chat.

    Let us know if there is more current research.

  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited August 2019

    Does anyone find it fishy that the OP joined BCO the same day she posted this claim, and has not posted on any other topic in all this time?

  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2019

    Well, this was a dormant thread, started in 2014. Prior to yesterday’s activity, the last post was from 2015. I don’t think the OP is coming back since she hasn’t signed in for 5 years.

  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited August 2019

    I was on paxil for many years before I got cancer. I was taking the generic form along with AI drugs to help with side effects. I saw something suggesting an increased risk of breast cancer taking paxil like drugs. I stopped taking it. My oncologist said there is no link or increased risk of taking the drug paxil. I am in the Seattle area and I am very interested in hearing more on this.

    I have seen it listed as a risk on foodforcancer website.

  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2019

    2019 Jan 9;11(1). pii: E64. doi: 10.3390/cancers11010064.

    Paroxetine Induces Apoptosis of Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells through Ca2+-and p38 MAP Kinase-Dependent ROS Generation.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30634506


  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited August 2019

    Send to

    2013 Jun;139(3):923-9. doi: 10.1007/s10549-013-2585-z. Epub 2013 Jun 13.

    Unjustified prescribing of CYP2D6 inhibiting SSRIs in women treated with tamoxifen.

    (Don’t take Paxil with Tamoxifen

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