Insulin Level May Help Predict Breast Cancer Survival

August 5, 2006

http://www.mercola.com/2000/may/28/insulin_breast_cancer.htm

Breast cancer patients with high levels of insulin in their blood seem to be more likely to die of their disease. Researchers found that insulin may predict whether a woman's breast cancer recurs after therapy and whether she will die.

In a study of 535 breast cancer patients followed for up to 10 years, those with the highest insulin levels were more than eight times more likely to die and were almost four times as likely to have their cancer recur at a distant site.

Although many of the women in the study were obese, and obesity is known to affect both breast cancer prognosis and insulin levels, obesity alone did not completely explain the link between insulin and poorer cancer survival. Although insulin normally helps promote cell growth, researchers hypothesize that in the breast, insulin can spur the growth of both normal and cancerous cells.

Annual meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology, New Orleans, May 23

COMMENT: I posted a similar article two years ago that was also from a meeting. Higher insulin levels seen in this study may just be a sign of ill-health and a sign of insulin resistance, and may therefore predict an increased risk of death in ALL people, not just breast cancer patients. Also, many people with elevated insulin levels also have elevated glucose levels and it is not clear whether it is the glucose or the insulin causing damage. If you or someone you know has breast cancer, or any cancer, it is imperative to lower your insulin levels. Cancer is the number two cause of death in this country, but elevated insulin levels have also been shown to increase the risk for heart disease stroke and other chronic health disorders. The diet I advocate is a good start in the direction to lower and maintain optimal insulin levels.

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