It may be a good idea to try for pain, as a new study suggests that opiate-based pain killers such as morphine may lead to cancer growth.
According to Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, two new studies are indicating that certain pain killers may be the cause of the growth of certain cancers.
It was found that when lung cancer cells were shielded from opiates, there was a reduction in cell production, invasion and migration in different models.
The study looked at cancer patients that were given other drugs that didnt incorporate opiate, and noticed that some of the patients defied life expectancy.
The researchers are looking at these studies further; as the results could completely change the way people are medicated today.
“If confirmed clinically, this could change how we do surgical anesthesia for our cancer patients,” said lead author of both studies, Dr. Patrick Singleton.
It was noted that mice that were on different medication reduced the tumor growth by 90 percent, but still recognized that further study is a must.